AUTHORITIES SAY INMATE HUNG HIMSELF IN SHOWER

WAUPACA - Waupaca County officials said the 27-year-old man found dead
in the county jail on Monday is Shane L. Hodge of Wisconsin Rapids.

Hodge was discovered unresponsive by another inmate in the shower at
the jail, according to a sheriff department's news release. He was
taken to Riverside Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

An investigation determined that Hodge committed suicide by hanging.

Hodge was being held by Wood County authorities, but was transferred
to the Waupaca County Jail because the Wood County Jail is full. Wood
County has been housing inmates in other counties since September 2001.

Wood County has 76 inmates held in other jails, including 26 in
Waupaca County.

Hodge had faced Wood County charges of escaping criminal arrest,
possession of marijuana as a subsequent offender, resisting an
officer, felony bail jumping and misdemeanor bail jumping. He had
pleaded not guilty to the charges against him on April 12.

Hodge was sentenced April 18 to 200 days in jail for charges of
fourth-offense drunken driving, fleeing an officer and resisting an
officer.

Filed by the Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune. The Post-Crescent
contributed to this report.