Lane County Jail Inmate Death Investigation

Eugene, Ore. - On 08/24/2023 at 2:00pm, a Lane County Sheriff’s Deputy working within a housing unit at the Lane County Jail discovered a male adult-in-custody (AIC) unresponsive in his cell during hourly checks. 

His last check had been completed at 1:00pm.  The male had a ligature tied around his neck and was unconscious and not breathing. The deputy removed the ligature and immediately began life-saving efforts. Emergency medical assistance arrived and despite continued life-saving efforts the male did not survive. 

Detectives along with the Lane County Medical Examiner’s Office responded to the scene and began an investigation.  All indications at this point are that the male died as the result of apparent suicide.  Investigators with the Medical Examiner’s Office are continuing the investigation into the official cause of his death.  A post-mortem examination is scheduled for today. 

Cates - 2021 mugshot

The male is identified as 33-year-old Joshua William Cates.  Cates was convicted in June in the Lane County Circuit Court for Sex Abuse in the First Degree, Attempted Rape in the First Degree, and Assault in the Second Degree. He was pending sentencing on these charges at the time of his death. 

News Release from Lane Co. Sheriff's Office
Posted on FlashAlert: August 25th, 2023 12:37 PM

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Original story:

MASKED SUSPECT ARRESTED FOLLOWING ASSAULT ON CANDLELIGHT DRIVE

On October 22 at 5:41 p.m., an officer responded to an assault on the 800 block of Candlelight Drive, and found an injured man. Eugene Springfield Fire EMS was called out and transported the 45-year-old male victim for treatment of a non-life threatening stab wound.

An initial investigation found that a man wearing a Halloween mask followed a woman to her residence. The man was unknown to the woman and after she had parked her vehicle and had the door propped open to get out, the 31-year-old male suspect, who had parked several doors down, attacked her and was attempting to pull her into her vehicle.

The female victim struggled to fight off the suspect and was ultimately helped by an alert male, who was babysitting inside the residence at the location and came out to intervene. The babysitter was able to get the suspect off of the woman and during the struggle was stabbed by the suspect. The suspect ran off and the male victim ran after him and then found a neighbor with a vehicle, who drove with him to look for the suspect. During this, they became aware that the male babysitter had a stab wound and he was then driven back to the residence by the neighbor.

A K9 unit was called out to search and was unable to locate the suspect. Eugene Police Violent Crimes Unit also responded to investigate the incident, and were able to identify the suspect, Joshua William Cates, age 31, of Eugene, from his vehicle and evidence left at the scene. The suspect was located a short time later, concealed in the back of a vehicle of a person known to him, not far from the location of the assault. Following contact with Cates, he was arrested and transported to the Lane County Jail. Case 21-16634