Ex Drexel Prof Convicted Of Sex Abuse Kills Self In NYC Jail: Reports

PHILADELPHIA — A former Drexel University chairman who was accused of sexually abusing his patients was found dead by suicide in a jail Monday, according to officials reports.

Former Drexel Neurology Department chair Ricardo Cruciani died on at about 6:30 a.m. Monday in Rikers Island's Eric M. Taylor Center jail, according to the New York City Department of Corrections.

While the cause of death is under still investigation, Ricardo, 68, died by hanging just 17 days after a Manhattan jury convicted him on sexual abuse and related charges after six former detailed their abuse at Ricardo's hands, according to the New York Daily News.

He was awaiting sentencing.

According to the Manhattan DA's Office, Cruciani developed a personal relationship with each patient and initiated physical contact by stroking his patients' hair, complimenting their appearance and giving them uncomfortably tight hugs. He eventually compelled them to have sex.

The sex acts had to continue for patients to receive prescriptions for addictive pain medications, authorities said. Cruciani over-prescribed high doses of pain medications to ensure his patients could not leave his care, the Manhattan DA said.

He had pleaded guilty to the Pennsylvania charges where he was accused of groping women while heading a Drexel University department.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports Cruciani was the chair of Drexel’s Department of Neurology from 2016 until he was fired in 2017.

In addition to being convicted in New York of sexual abuse, Cruciani was awaiting a federal trial where he is accused of abusing patients for 15 years at his offices in Philadelphia, New York City, and New Jersey, Action News reports.

Ricardo's death is the 11th in New York City Department of Corrections custody in 2022.

"I am deeply saddened to learn of Mr. Cruciani’s passing," Commissioner Louis A. Molina said. "We will conduct a preliminary internal review to determine the circumstances surrounding his death. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his loved ones."

All deaths in custody are first investigated by the State Attorney General’s Office and the New York City Department of Investigation.