Rapist NYC physician Ricardo Cruciani ought to have been on suicide watch at Rikers when he killed self: report

The Manhattan neurologist who killed himself on Rikers Island after being discovered responsible of raping his sufferers was purported to have been on suicide watch on the time of his dying, in line with a brand new report on jail deaths.

But Rikers Island staffers failed to put Ricardo Cruciani underneath the court-ordered watch — and the disgraced physician hung himself in a bathe in August, only a month before he was set to be sentenced.

The revelation was among the many failures highlighted in a report from the New York Board of Correction launched Wednesday relating to its investigation into 9 of the 18 deaths in-custody thus far this 12 months.

Of the 9, three inmates — together with Cruciani — dedicated suicide, 4 died from drug overdoses and two of suspected pure or medical-related causes, the BOC discovered.

Following 68-year-old Cruciani’s July 29 conviction on 12 counts, together with rape and sexual assault, a Manhattan decide ordered the New York City Department of Correction to place him on suicide watch in protecting custody, the report states.

But the probe discovered that the DOC’s personal information present that the division didn’t adjust to the decide’s order. Instead, the wicked doc was put normally inhabitants housing.

He was discovered hanging, with a mattress sheet tied round his neck, Aug. 15 — however a correction officer didn’t render rapid first support, the investigation discovered. 

The report additionally cites dozens of incidents the place DOC workers didn’t take inmates to psychological well being or medical appointments, didn’t render rapid first support to unresponsive prisoners and didn’t absolutely enter cells to test on them.

Among the instances cited was that of Dashawn Carter, a identified schizophrenic who hung himself in his cell on the problem-plagued lockup on May 7. He missed a complete of 92 medical appointments — 76 as a result of the division didn’t escort him to the clinic, the report discovered.

Antonio Bradley, who died in-custody in June, eight days after hanging himself along with his sweater in a Bronx court docket holding pen, had been positioned on and off suicide watch repeatedly from the beginning of his incarceration in October 2021, the report states.

A DOC captain wrote in an “Injury to Inmate Report” that the incident was “an effort to expedite his placement on the bus back to Rikers Island from the Bronx Courts.”

When he was again within the holding cell for a court docket date on June 10, Bradley tied his sweater to the gate and fell to his knees. EMS took him to Lincoln Hospital, however he by no means regained consciousness. He was taken off life assist on June 18. 

The DOC didn’t notify the BOC of Bradley’s passing, and mentioned they didn’t depend a dying after discharge as one which came about in-custody. 

The report additionally notes low staffing ranges and supervision issues on the troubled jail, in addition to rampant drug use.

There have been 18 fatalities in New York City jails thus far in 2022 and the report lined 9 of the deaths, following an preliminary report earlier this 12 months. The board remains to be investigating the remaining six deaths.

The DOC didn’t instantly return a request for touch upon the report Thursday.

If you’re fighting suicidal ideas or are experiencing a psychological well being disaster and dwell in New York City, you’ll be able to name 1-888-NYC-WELL without spending a dime and confidential disaster counseling. If you reside exterior the 5 boroughs, you’ll be able to dial the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention hotline at 988 or go to SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.