Abduction suspect attempts suicide

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - An inmate from the Kent County Jail is on life support at this hour.

Konrad Spiegel, 40, was rushed to Spectrum Hospital Butterworth Campus after trying to commit suicide.

His father, Dick Spiegel, told 24 Hour News 8 Kent County Undersheriff Jon Hess showed up Wednesday night at his house in Caledonia. Hess told Spiegel and his wife, Shirley, their son was found hanging in his jail cell after 8 p.m.

Hess told them Konrad was alone in his cell for about 40 minutes.

A press release from the Kent County Sheriff's Department indicates Spiegel was found at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday hanging from an article of green inmate clothing from the cell bars of his cell window.

Officers administered CPR until medical personnel could arrive.

Undersheriff Hess arranged for the Spiegels to be driven to the hospital to be with their son.

Dick Spiegel said, "It was sad to see him lying there."

Spiegel said the doctor told him Konrad was "brain damaged and would require care for the rest of his life, if he survived."

Spiegel says survival "doesn't look good at all" for his son.

Konrad Spiegel was arrested during the early morning hours of March 13 after allegedly attempting to abduct a woman he knew from the Family Tavern in Caledonia. She worked there. His mother told 24 Hour News 8 Konrad and the woman had had an intimate relationship.

Konrad Spiegel, reportedly armed with a shotgun, tried to force the woman into his vehicle. She escaped and ran for help.

When police arrived about an hour later at Spiegel's home, his parents say officers arrested Konrad and removed other weapons from the house -- an air pistol and a hunting rifle. The parents told 24 Hour News 8 they had no idea their son had guns.

Konrad Spiegel, who is a convicted felon for drug possession, was charged with several offenses. He was accused of assault with intent to kidnap, unlawful imprisonment, possession of a short barrel shotgun, possession of a firearm by a felon, and felony firearms.

Dick Spiegel said his son must not have been "able to live with the stigma of prison, all the pressures of losing his job (as a Northwest Airlines baggage handler), and the scandal" of the charges against him.

His father said at the hospital Wednesday night the family "priest administered the sacrament of the sick, which used to be referred to as last rites." It's called extreme unction in the Catholic Church.

Dick Spiegel said his son will be kept on life support through the night and that a brain scan will be done sometime Thursday morning.

There is a do not resuscitate order in place.

Spiegel told 24 Hour News 8 he called the Kent County Sheriff's Department after 12 a.m. Thursday to learn more about how his son hung himself. He was told a report was being written and it wouldn't be available until later.

24 Hour News 8 called the Kent County Jail and was also told there would be a news release later in the morning.

Dick Spiegel told us "it's a sad thing they (jail staff) didn't watch him more."

It was not believed that Konrad was considered a suicide threat. Dick added that he said to the arresting officers "be careful with him."

Dick Spiegel said his son "must have been depressed to do something like this. It's sad. What a waste."