An act of desperation. A local man accused of killing an elderly victim and then burying his body in concrete tried to take his own life at the County Jail.
Thomas Jeffrey Brooks is accused of killing Edward Andrews, 80, who lived in a mobile home park in Riverside County. A homeowner found Andrew's body, encased in concrete, in the back yard of a North Park home, prosecutors said.
Brooks is also accused of stealing more than $90,000 from the victim's bank account.
He was due in court Monday for a preliminary hearing but that hearing was delayed when Brooks was found bleeding and unconscious early Monday morning in his jail cell.
The San Diego County Sheriff's Department said Brooks attempted suicide by cutting his neck. He also made a noose to hang himself. The jail medical staff was able to revive Brooks and take him to a local hospital, deputies said.
Brooks' preliminary hearing is now scheduled for October 15. Meanwhile, a co-defendant in that case pleaded guilty to being an accessory to murder and other felony charges.
