Guard Watched as Man Hanged Himself in Jail, Prosecutors Say

Captain Rebecca Hillman was charged with criminally negligent homicide in the death of a prisoner, an incident that led to criticism of New York City’s jail system.

A correction supervisor who prosecutors say allowed a 29-year-old man to hang himself in a New York City jail last fall — and even stopped another guard who tried to intervene — was charged with criminally negligent homicide on Monday. Prosecutors said that Captain Rebecca Hillman would not let another officer enter the cell of the man, Ryan Wilson, and cut him down when he hanged himself with a bedsheet at the Manhattan Detention complex in November. Mr. Wilson had suffered from mental health issues for years but had never before attempted suicide, his lawyer said. He was charged with robbery in October 2020 and sent to the Manhattan Detention Complex, often called the Tombs.