LAFAYETTE, Ind. — An Indiana man who admitted fatally stabbing and shooting a fellow Purdue University student inside a crowded classroom committed suicide in prison Tuesday.
The Indiana Department of Corrections on Wednesday confirmed Cody Cousins was found dead in his Michigan City, Ind., cell.
Cousins was found unresponsive in his cell during a routine security check just before 9 p.m. Tuesday. He was found with self-inflicted lacerations to his neck and both arms. Prison staff attempted to revive Cousins to no avail. He was declared dead at approximately 9:20 p.m. Tuesday.
"It appears he used a razor to self inflict wounds to his neck and arms," said Doug Garrison, Indiana Department of Corrections spokesman.
Inmates are allowed razors to shave, Garrison said.
Cousins, 24, was sentenced Sept. 19 to 65 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to the Jan. 21 attack that left 21-year-old Andrew Boldt of West Bend, Wis., dead on the West Lafayette campus. He admitted killing Boldt in a basement classroom in Purdue University's Electrical Engineering Building.
Cousins arrived at the Indiana State Prison on Oct. 23 and was being housed in a unit for new arrivals.
Garrison said Cousins had had no problems or incidents during the time he'd been in DOC custody. The death is under investigation by the prison's Internal Affairs Office and the LaPorte County Coroner's Office.
Cousins' attorney, Kirk Freeman, said he was notified by the prison and a local prosecuting attorney Wednesday morning that Cousins had been found dead.
"My only comment would be that what I said at the sentencing hearing stands," Freeman said. "He is so sick he doesn't know how sick he was."
Tippecanoe County Prosecutor Pat Harrington said he was notified Wednesday morning of Cousins' death.
"It's an unusual twist to a tragic case," Harrington said.
Purdue University professor David Meyer said he heard of Cousins' death but had no comment. It was Meyer's classroom in which Boldt's murder took place.
"We've been instructed not to comment," Meyer said.
Purdue spokeswoman Liz Evans said the university "respectfully declines to comment."
She noted, however, that her office had not instructed professors not to comment on Cousins' death.
Defense attorneys argued Friday that Cousins was mentally ill at the time of the slaying.
But two mental health specialists, Steven Berger and Vernon Little, told the court that Cousins didn't show signs of mental illness the day Boldt was killed.
On the stand during his trial, Cousins told the court he had lied to doctors and faked being mentally ill.
"I killed Andrew Boldt because I wanted to, and I do what I want to do, Cousins said. "I made up all that crap about Andrew being evil."
Boldt suffered five gunshots and was cut 19 times.
Contributing: Journal & Courier reporters Ron Wilkins, Dartunorro Clark and Steven Porter
The suspect in the Purdue school shooting, 23-year-old Cody Cousins, could face up to 45 to 65 years in prison for allegedly shooting and killing fellow Purdue University engineering student Andrew Boldt. VPC
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