Man found dead in Lenawee County jail

11/14/2013

ADRIAN -- A Clinton, Mich., man who was being held at the Lenawee County jail on criminal sexual conduct and witness intimidation charges appears to have killed himself, authorities said.

Daniel Pitts, 34, was transported about 12:10 p.m. Wednesday to Bixby Hospital where attempts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful, according to the Lenawee County Sheriff's Office. Foul play was not suspected, deputies said.

Mr. Pitts was in jail awaiting a preliminary examination hearing Nov. 19 in Lenawee County Circuit Court, deputies said. He was being held on 26 first-degree felony charges of criminal sexual conduct involving an alleged abuse of a girl, 16 of them from the time when she was younger than 13 in Tecumseh and the rest from the time when she was between 13 and 16 in Clinton. He was additionally charged with three counts of witness intimidation.

He was arrested Jan. 4 at his mother's house in Dundee after the allegations were reported Dec. 31, according to Clinton police.

Each of the sexual misconduct counts carries a possible life sentence.

The incident in jail remains under investigation.

Adrian, the Lenawee County seat, is about 35 miles northwest of Toledo.