Roger Golubski, a former Kansas police detective accused of kidnapping and sexually assaulting Black women over decades, was found dead at his Edwardsville home on Monday morning, reported the news agency AP.
The 71-year-old’s death, ruled a suicide by authorities, occurred hours before jury selection for his highly anticipated trial was set to begin.
According to CNN, Golubski was discovered after failing to appear in court. His attorney, Christopher Joseph, stated that his client had been “despondent” over recent media coverage but declined further comment.
The Kansas Bureau of Investigation confirmed there were “no indications of foul play” in his death, CBS News reported.
Golubski faced six felony counts of violating women’s civil rights and had denied the allegations.
Prosecutors alleged that, during his tenure with the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department, Golubski used his authority to target vulnerable women, coercing sexual favours and threatening their families.
According to CNN, Court filings indicated he deliberately chose victims he believed would not be believed.
Community outrage and history of allegations
The accusations against Golubski, dating back to the 1980s, have long angered the community, deepening mistrust of law enforcement in Kansas City’s poorer neighbourhoods.
Many female residents feared him, claiming he preyed on their vulnerabilities and wielded his power to intimidate those who resisted. AP reported that protesters gathered outside the courthouse on Monday morning, holding signs with slogans like “Justice Now!” despite sub-freezing temperatures.
These criminal charges were part of a broader investigation into Golubski’s conduct during his 35 years as a police officer. One prominent case involved Lamonte McIntyre, a teenager wrongfully convicted of a double murder in 1994.
McIntyre spent over 23 years in prison before his release in 2017. The case led to a $12.5 million settlement from local officials, though Golubski denied any wrongdoing, CNN reported.
Prosecutors had acknowledged the difficulty of building the case against Golubski, as much of the evidence relied on the testimonies of his accusers. Seven other women were prepared to testify against him, CBS News reported.
In one particularly harrowing account, prosecutors alleged that Golubski drove a woman to a cemetery, threatened her life, and subjected her to repeated assaults beginning in her teenage years.
Call for accountability
Golubski had been under house arrest and receiving dialysis treatments prior to his death, accordind to AP. His apparent suicide has left many victims feeling that justice has been denied.
Cheryl Pilate, an attorney representing some of the women, has called for an independent investigation into his death, emphasising the community’s desire for a full public accounting of his alleged crimes.
The Justice Department expressed its regret that the trial could not proceed, stating, “The proceedings in this case may be over, but its lasting impact on all the individuals and families involved remains.”