Man who died in Allegheny County Jail choked to death on paper towel, medical examiner rules

A McKeesport man found dead in the Allegheny County Jail earlier this year choked to death on a paper towel, according to the medical examiner’s office.

Douglas Bonomo, 59, was pronounced dead in the jail shortly before 7: 30 a. m. July 23. He’d been at the jail since January on charges of disorderly conduct, evading arrest and theft, jail officials said at the time.

A judge had ordered Bonomo be committed to Torrance State Hospital in April, but he remained at the jail waiting for a bed at the hospital to be available.

“We have a number of individuals with acute mental health needs at the facility who have been committed to Torrance,” then-Warden Orlando Harper said July 25, two days after the man was found dead. “Until a bed opens, they just remain at the jail per the courts. There is a large waiting list for admittance, and many jails are struggling with this same issue.”

A spokesman for the jail declined to comment on the man’s cause of death.

It’s unclear whether Bonomo was in any sort of special custody based on mental health needs. Allegheny County Police are investigating.

Mr. Harper retired effective Friday. Shane Dady, a deputy superintendent with the state Department of Corrections, will serve as acting warden until a permanent replacement is hired.

In May, a man in custody died during the intake process at the jail. Officials said he had fentanyl and cocaine in his system. The medical examiner ultimately said in September that the man died of a brain hemorrhage, ruling the death an accident.

On Sept. 13, a 27-year-old man incarcerated at the jail was found in “medical distress” by a corrections officer making morning rounds. He had been brought to the jail Sept. 9 on a bench warrant. Officials said he tested positive for fentanyl and methamphetamines when he arrived and had been in detox protocols. It was not clear what those protocols involved.

In June, officials said the county manager contracted with the National Commission on Correctional Health Care to review the jail’s intake and detox protocols.

A report by the NCCHC, expected to be finalized in October, will provide recommendations “to improve current processes and services,” officials said.