A former Kansas police detective accused of “the grossest acts of corruption a police officer can commit” has died shortly before federal prosecutors began trying charges against him.
Roger Golubski, 71, had been waiting trial on charges that he kidnapped and raped two women during the 1990s and early 2000s when he was found dead on Monday morning in his home.
Authorities discovered Golubski’s body after he failed to arrive for jury selection in his long-awaited trial in Topeka, Kansas, according to reporting from CNN and the Kansas City Star. Sources told the outlets that his death was believed to be a suicide.
Golubski was out on bond awaiting the trial when he was reportedly found dead on his back porch. He is accused of sexually assaulting vulnerable Black women over the course of multiple decades in a case with allegations that shocked the country.
Golubski was charged with abusing his power as a law enforcement officer to violate the civil rights of two women by means of kidnapping, rape and sexual assault. He had been charged under a federal statute that declares it a crime for government officials – a title that includes law enforcement officers – to deprive any person of their federally protected civil rights. He had pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The charges consisted of six felony counts of depriving the civil rights of two women, one of whom was as young as 13 when the alleged abuse began.
Prosecutors said in court filings it was believed he had chosen his victims because he was confident they would never be believed if they were to come forward.
In 2020, during civil litigation stemming from the charges against, Golubski was asked if he understood that he was accused of “some of the grossest acts of corruption a police officer can commit”. Golubski declined to answer, invoking his constitutional right against self-incrimination.
He had been under house arrest for the past two years. Golubski’s attorney, Chris Joseph, said in court Monday morning that his client was “despondent” over recent press coverage his case was receiving.
Assistant US attorney general Kristen Clarke, of the civil rights division, and US attorney Kate E Brubacher for the federal district of Kansas issued a statement on Golubski’s death.
“This matter involved extremely serious charges, and it is always difficult when a case is unable to be fully and fairly heard in a public trial and weighed and determined by a jury,” the statement read. “The proceedings in this case may be over, but its lasting impact on all the individuals and families involved remains.”
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Information and support for anyone affected by rape or sexual abuse issues is available from the following organisations. In the US, Rainn offers support on 800-656-4673. In the UK, Rape Crisis offers support on 0808 500 2222. In Australia, support is available at 1800Respect (1800 737 732). Other international helplines can be found at ibiblio.org/rcip/internl.html
