Matthew Stewart, accused of killing police officer, wounding 5 others in shootout, found dead in jail cell
A Utah Army veteran charged with killing a police officer and wounding five others in a shootout during a marijuana raid was found Friday hanging dead in his cell, authorities said.
Matthew David Stewart, age 39, was found hanging from a bed sheet during a routine cell check just before 1 a.m., Weber County Attorney Dee Smith said.
The county has referred the investigation into the death to an outside agency, and another county attorney will review it.
Matthew David Stewart
The man’s father, Michael Stewart, has said he doesn’t believe foul play was involved and it may have been a suicide. He added that his son was despondent over a judge’s recent refusal to hold a hearing on what the family believes was an illegally obtained search warrant.
Stewart was accused of killing strike force agent Jared Francom and wounding other officers when authorities descended on his Ogden home during a January 2012 marijuana raid.
He could have faced the death penalty if convicted of aggravated murder as well as charges of attempted aggravated murder and marijuana cultivation.
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