Details emerge about TV pitchman Don Lapre's apparent suicide
(CBS) More details surrounding the death of incarcerated TV pitchman Don Lapre have been released. Authorities say the Arizona-based late night infomercial personality killed himself early Sunday morning, two days before his $52 million fraud trial was to begin.
Law enforcement officials said a "large amount of blood" was found in the jail cell where Lapre was being held, and that the pitchman had committed suicide by cutting himself.
TMZ spoke to Lapre's mother, Shirley Cleveland, who alleged that her son's anti-depressant medication was taken from him when he was sent to jail. She also claims the father of two had attempted to commit suicide in the past. She told TMZ that when she learned that law officials had allegedly taken away his medication, she appealed to her son's lawyer for help. Cleveland claims her son was given another medication eventually, but that it did not treat his depression.
Lapre was facing 41 counts of conspiracy, mail fraud, wire fraud and promotional money laundering. Prosecutors allege that his product his company was promoting, "The Greatest Vitamin in the World," did not work as he claimed, and the product was used to fuel an Internet-based Ponzi scheme that scammed over 220,000 people.When the TV pitchman did not appear for his arraignment in June, a warrant was issued for his arrest. Officials say they found Lapre hiding out in a gym, with a deep cut to his groin. At that time, they believed he had tried to commit suicide by slicing his femoral artery.
