Suicide reported in Lake County jail
A Lake County jail inmate committed suicide early Friday, authorities said.
Igor Karlukov, 36, was found hanging in his cell about 3 a.m., Undersheriff Raymond J. Rose said at a news conference.
Jail staff tried to resuscitate Karlukov, but he was pronounced dead at Vista East Medical Center at 3:47 a.m.
Karlukov, of Palatine, was arrested in February after using a sandwich delivery to force his way into a Mundelein woman's apartment and attack her, authorities said.
He was awaiting trial on charges of home invasion, domestic battery, aggravated stalking and violating an order of protection.
Karlukov, who is Ukranian, also was wanted by immigration authorities, Rose said.
Karlukov had been on a suicide watch since March 28 when a jail officer discovered a cut on his neck and he was evaluated by mental health staff, Rose said.
Because of the suicide watch, officers regularly checked Karlukov's cell, Rose said, and he had been seen reading on his bed shortly before hanging himself, Rose said.
At the time of his arrest, there was no indication Karlukov intended to harm himself, Rose said. Authorities suspect he may have killed himself because he was facing a life sentence in prison, Rose said.
The last inmate death inside the jail was a 2006 suicide, Rose said.
However, since January, jail staff has intervened 14 times in suicide attempts, saving the inmates' lives, he said.
"It's becoming a significant issue in the running of the jail," he said.
There have been two other jail-related deaths since 2012.