Suspect in St. Paul triple murder commits suicide in jail

A St. Paul man accused of shooting three relatives to death last month took his own life in his Ramsey County jail cell Friday afternoon, according to authorities.

Patrick McHugh, 55, was found unresponsive in his cell at about 5 p.m. during a routine check, according to a news release from the Ramsey County Sheriff's office. Jail personnel and medical staff unsuccessfully tried to revive him. McHugh was pronounced dead at the scene.

McHugh was alone in his cell at the time of his death, according to the news release. It did not indicate how McHugh committed suicide.

McHugh had been jailed since July 16, when he was arrested on charges he shot to death his sister, brother-in-law and niece at the home he shared with his mother in the Highland Park neighborhood of St. Paul.

He had been on suicide watch for several days after his arrest, but was taken off the watch list on July 27 on the recommendation of a department psychologist, according to the news release.

Jail staff conduct routine checks every 30 minutes on the inmates in the jail, according to the sheriff's department.

The St. Paul Police Department and the Ramsey County Medical Examiner's Office are investigating.

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