By Cory Matteson
Lincoln Journal Star
LINCOLN, Neb. — Family members say they believe Lincoln Correctional Center inmate Jesse Perrigo died as a result of head trauma suffered during an altercation on Friday.
“He was pretty beat up,” said Jesse Perrigo’s older brother, Glenn, 44, who identified him at BryanLGH Medical Center West following the altercation.
Jesse Perrigo of Omaha died Saturday evening at the hospital. He was 39. On Monday, family members in Omaha said they hoped his attacker would be found and punished.
Sentenced to life in prison for the 1991 slaying of an Omaha taxi driver during an attempted robbery, Jesse Perrigo was taken in critical condition to the hospital Friday afternoon.
Dawn-Renee Smith, public information officer for the state Department of Correctional Services, did not say whether a weapon was used in Friday’s incident or how many other people were involved. The incident was not witnessed by corrections staff, but she said they responded immediately.
Glenn Perrigo told family members that when he saw his brother Saturday, his battered face was covered. Intravenous tubes protruded from his body, and a machine kept his heart pumping.
Prison and Nebraska State Patrol officials have declined further comment other than to say an investigation is ongoing.
Family members were told the same thing by officials investigating Jesse Perrigo’s death.
“I haven’t heard anything yet,” Glenn Perrigo said.
Ida Bower, Jesse Perrigo’s cousin, said she received a call Monday morning from a family friend who has a relative in LCC custody.
The caller brought up the Friday altercation without knowing Bower was related to Jesse Perrigo. Bower said she was told her cousin was attacked with a makeshift weapon. She said she wanted to speak with officials about the investigation.
“We need to get to it and see who did this and get this person punished,” Bower said.
She said she had not spoken with her cousin since he was sentenced to life 18 years ago. Glenn Perrigo’s son, Robert Perrigo, 23, said he corresponded occasionally by letter with his uncle.
He said his uncle had come to terms with the fact he would spend the rest of his life in prison and had accepted responsibility for what he did to get there. He embraced Christianity, Robert Perrigo said, and participated in a dog training program at LCC.
In letters, Jesse Perrigo never wrote that he feared for his well-being in the mediumand maximum-security facility.
“Actually, it was the exact opposite,” Robert Perrigo said. “He had a lot of respect in the yard, and around the prison he had a lot of friends.”
Glenn Perrigo said he last received a letter from his brother in December, saying he had just gotten out of lockdown.
He said he wants to find out what happened that led to his death in the following month.
“I want to know who did it,” Glenn Perrigo said.
Services for Jesse Perrigo are pending. He is survived by Glenn Perrigo and two sisters. He had no children.
Copyright 2010 Lincoln Journal Star