GRAFTON — The death of an inmate who committed suicide has prompted a criminal investigation and led to one Grafton Correctional Institution guard’s suspension.

County Coroner Paul Matus said Earl Elswick, 37, was found dead in his cell at the prison at about noon Dec. 30. Matus ruled the death a suicide, saying the only marks on his body came from the bed sheet he used as a noose.

Elswick was alone in his cell at the time, Matus said.

Corrections Officer Jorge Ruiz, a 10-year veteran of the prison system who was on duty the morning Elswick died, was placed on paid administrative leave on Friday, said Andrea Dean, a spokeswoman for the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction.

Dean declined to say what exactly the prison system and State Highway Patrol troopers were investigating, other than to note that concerns were brought to the attention of the prison’s warden.

Elswick has been in prison since 1993, when he was sentenced to serve a nine to 25-year sentence after being convicted of rape in Cuyahoga County.

Ruiz, who could face punishment ranging from a reprimand to termination if found to have violated prison policies, has had several disciplinary problems in the past two years, mostly involving being late to roll call. Since 2006, he has been fined 11 days pay, including once when he took off without having a replacement to cover his shift.

Dean stressed that so far, nothing has shown that Ruiz violated policy.

“We don’t know that he’s done anything wrong,” she said.

Matus said he did not know the details surrounding the suicide and the trooper investigating the case could not be reached for comment Monday.

Contact Brad Dicken at 329-7147 or bdicken@chroniclet.com.

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