Mississippi man hangs himself at jail

Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office investigators continue to search for why 37-year-old Christian S. Bush, of 339 East Cayuga Drive, Crystal Springs, Miss., hanged himself Thursday at the parish detention center.

Bush reportedly choked himself with a 24-inch metal telephone cord in a holding cell where he was being held pending bond, said department spokesman Larry Weidel.

Bush, who was arrested April 27 on domestic violence and child endangerment charges, was also served with a restraining order and had to stay away from and not communicate with his wife and child, Weidel said. Authorities believe the woman and child are staying in the Bayou Blue area.

The Mississippi man was found in his cell by another inmate and a correctional officer at 1:15 p.m., Weidel said. He was lying in his cell next to the commode with the telephone cord around his throat. For privacy reasons, the toilet area is the only location the newly installed cameras at the jail do not record, Weidel said.

Three other inmates in Bush’s cell were asleep when the incident occurred.

An autopsy was conducted early Friday. Weidel said the investigation is ongoing.

This marked the second jail hanging in one week’s time in the Tri-parishes. On April 28, a 53-year-old man hanged himself from a jail cell doorknob, the Associated Press reported. The man, Keith Paul Dufrene of Patterson, was being held for disturbing the peace and being drunk, authorities said.

According to the Associated Press, Dufrene was arrested around 6:21 p.m. following a disturbance at his residence.

Police Chief Patrick LaSalle told the Associated Press officers found Dufrene two hours later slumped next to the door. He used an article of clothing to hang himself, LaSalle said.

The St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office and coroner’s office were investigating the incident.