A man who officials said attempted suicide in the Fayette County Prison on Sunday has been identified.

Derek Andrew Thomas, 25, remained hospitalized in UPMC Presbyterian in Pittsburgh as of late Friday, said Brian Miller, Fayette County Prison warden. Miller said he had not been notified of any change in Thomas’ condition as of Saturday afternoon.

On Friday, Fayette County Commissioner Vincent Zapotosky said Thomas’ condition had deteriorated, and he described his situation as “grave.”

Miller said a corrections officer who was making rounds in the jail in Uniontown discovered Thomas hanging from a bedsheet in a housing corridor about 6 p.m. Sunday. It is unknown how long he was hanging before he was discovered, but Miller said Thomas had a pulse when he was cut down.

Thomas was taken to Uniontown Hospital, then transferred to UPMC, where Miller said he was admitted to the facility’s intensive care unit.

A hospital spokesman on Saturday deferred comment on Thomas’ condition to “authorities.”

Court records indicate he was committed to the jail on Dec. 21 on burglary, theft and receiving stolen property charges on $50,000 cash bail.

Bail was reduced to $50,000 unsecured at Miller’s request, according to electronic court records, because of the suicide attempt and Thomas’ hospitalization.

The bail reduction allowed Miller to withdraw a guard from Thomas’ room, after which the hospital allowed his family to be at his bedside.

Miller said that when Thomas arrived at the jail, he gave no indication during the intake process that he might be suicidal. The inmate scored only a 3 on a questionnaire designed to identify such risk, Miller said.

To be placed on suicide watch, inmates must score at least an 8, the warden said.

Charles Bittner, 48, of Uniontown said he was incarcerated at the same time as Thomas. Bittner, who has since been released from the jail, said Thomas told inmates that he was “dope sick” from drug withdrawal but was denied medication.

Miller on Saturday said a drug withdrawal protocol was not implemented because Thomas tested negative for drugs that require such medication.

An investigation into the circumstances surrounding the suicide attempt are ongoing, the warden said. In addition to an internal investigation, he said, Uniontown city police were asked to conduct their own investigation.

Court records indicate Thomas had three prior criminal cases since 2008 for offenses that include driving under the influence and marijuana and drug possession. In 2010, he was sentenced to up to two years in prison in a case involving drug and weapons charges.

Liz Zemba is a reporter for Trib Total Media. She can be reached at 412-601-2166 or lzemba@tribweb.com.

---

Copyright ©2026— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)

---