Suicide in Montclair Jail Cell

This is sad.

(NOTE: People are Hanged, objects are hung. Therefore, it should read that Mr. Sheppard "hanged himself", not hung. Funny, the AP got it wrong too, but The Record got it right.)

It really is sad! But I thought it was interesting the AP said that he was in "possession of burglary tools." I wonder what burglary tools are?

After news like this, I think we all could use some of Fran's "Happy, Feel Good" photos.

It was always a nice way to start a Sunday.

Excellent way to save tax payer dollars for a trial.

Whatever, the guy was scum. The world is probably a better place without him. Good riddance.

Bottom-feeders like this scumbag need to clean up their act and get jobs and become functioning members of our society instead of a parasite.

This guy was a burglar, not a mass murderer. To hear some fo you guys say it, it was a good thing for society that he hanged himself. While not some spiritual giant, nor a bleeding heart, there is, in my opinion something very hard hearted and very petty in seeing this sad occurrence in this light. If I am misunderstood, I'm sorry, moreso for those who misunderstand.

So what. My heart goes out to his family, if he has any. The fact remains he chose a life of crime which includes the consequences that come with that. He'd already been in prison at least once and it's likely he chose suicide rather than going back to the slammer. It was his choice.

Regardless, our society is better off with one less parasite feeding itself off the backs of those of us who work hard for a living. Again, good riddance.

My my hans.....

you don't sound very much like the liberal democrat you claim to be. you almost sound like a....no...not you...couldn't be. not very much in keeping with the pres-elec, hans, I do believe he would frown...

Mkay -- Burglary tools, according to Black's Law Dictionary, are "implements designed to assist a person in committing a burglary. In many jurisdictions, it is illegal to possess such a tool if the possessor intends to commit a burglary."

It follows that what is/is not found to be a burglary tool will depend on context. If, when apprehended attempting to force open a window of a house that is not yours, you have in your possession a couple of screwdrivers and a prybar, those things will likely be considered burglary tools. In a different situation, they wouldn't be.

matter of fact, hans, you almost like one of those nasty skinhead types...but don't hold back...tell us how you really feel....

My political views cannot be easily classified, so I stopped trying.

I have a personal bias against criminals. Perhaps you would too, if you were a victim as much as my family has been over the years. I have zero sympathy for criminals.

Who cares what Obama thinks about my political viewpoints. I'm sure he'll be knocking on my door soon to tell me off.

Stella Blue, if you'd like we can pay for the cost of this guy's jail cell directly from your taxes, reimburse his victims from your pocketbook and extract $100 from your savings account every time a douchebag like this asshole needs a public defender.

Bless his soul. May Anthony Sheppard rest in peace.

I too Hans am a hard working guy. And I pay as much, or more than most people pay in taxes. Needless to say, I don't like it either. I have also been the victim of crimes. Never been arrested myself either, and try to lead an exemplary life. having said that, it appears I may have more in common than the deceased Mr Sheppard than I have with you sir. Maybe he killed himself out of fear of going back to prison, maybe it was shame. God only knows that, or what his other issues were. I thank God sir, we differ on this.

Sure, it's a free country and we are allowed to disagree.

Doesn't change my opinion on criminal scum, though.

"This guy was a burglar, not a mass murderer."

As far as we know, but what what have been his intentions had he found someone at home. Rape? Assault? Murder? A combination of the above?

So yeah, the preferred outcome would have been for him to live long enough to stand trial but for whatever reason, he saw fit to end his own life. Unless he left a note, we will most likely never learn why.

Still, I am more apt to feel sorry for the person(s) who home he broke into than for him.

what what=what would

"hansmeir" apparently knows who is guilty and who should live or die. But I guess that makes sense - Montclair is so popular that even deities want to live here. Although his/her lack of compassion makes that deity status suspect.

Oh, he's definitely a deity: Priapus, the big, useless dick!

I think the fact the guy hung himself is indicative of his guilt.

It's kind of insulting to call me a deity. I'm about as non-religious a person you can get. But if you want to treat me like a god then I suppose I should go ahead and file for tax-exemption status like every other religious out there. I could call my religion hansmeierology. Every new member gets a free a free toaster!

then you can obstruct progress and deny people's rights by supporting crazy ballot measures cough cough california arizona florida

maybe these montclair yuppies could make jokes at their own mothers funerals ey prof williams et. al?..man, bigger asses ive rarely come across

hey hans amigo..don't forget that 3 out of 5 americans have been in jail one time or another, your own mom and dad could be one of these bottom feeders ey?

A guy hangs himself in jail, possibly in abject fear, of only he knows what, and he's found guilty of actions, real or imagined by bloggers.

3 out of 5 Americans have been in jail? You sure about that stat??

Yeah, those stats seem a little high. Maybe 3 out of 5 Americans know someone who's been in jail. I know three: Lizzie Grubman, Martha Stewart and Paris Hilton.

According the the NJ Dept of Corrections website, Anthony Sheppard was arrested for burglary in 2005, was incarcerated in 2006 and did two years in jail. He was paroled in May 2008.

3 in 5 Americans have been in jail? Please. Ludicrous statistic. Provide backup.

"Still, I am more apt to feel sorry for the person(s) who home he broke into than for him."

I think I feel most sorry for his family...wife, kids, parents...

sixty percent of the population having been in jail seemed high to me as well. Very high, but that doesn't mitigate how crappy the whole story makes me feel. And correctly, I do feel very badly for this guy's family.

Nice to wake up and read the crazed thoughts of pyschos this early in the morning. I didn't realize burglars were better off dead. Maybe we should reinstate the death penalty and make every single crime punishable by it. I'll remember that if one of your kids ever gets busted with pot. OFF WITH HIS HEAD!

On another note it's pretty funny the lengths Baristanet will go to to not credit the Montclair Times with a story. This story appeared there first, and the Bergen Record story has a Montclair Times writer on its byline, but Baristanet went and credited NJ.com, which only re-wrote the Montclair Times story. Aren't we supposed to celebrate local journalism here?

Reading this thread made me shudder, not because of the criminal but because of the psycho-posters, particularly hansmeier. Hans, please see a doctor or a priest or somebody, soon.

I feel bad for the person who found the guy hanging.

Yes, and what about the homeowner who will never again feel safe in his or her home? It could have been a lot worse, granted, but having your home and/or security violated is an awful feeling.

I don't think anyone here will deny that it's awful not feeling safe in your own home. I think much of the shock is due to the comments that are not only absent any empathy for the now deceased man, but are filled with hate and a "good riddance" mentality. Are burglars upstanding citizens? No, they are law breakers. But are they the kind of sick psychopaths who deserve the kind of raging anger directed towards them on this post? Not at all. The guy broke into homes, he didn't murder people.

My favorite comment above is the guy who rails against public defense, which is a right enshrined in that pesky document, the U.S. Constitution. Clearly a hothead still in a depressed funk over last Tuesday's election results. Let's give him a few days to reconsider his anger towards the Constitution. Maybe he'll reconsider his hatred of America.

"My favorite comment above is the guy who rails against public defense, which is a right enshrined in that pesky document, the U.S. Constitution. Clearly a hothead still in a depressed funk over last Tuesday's election results."

Why would he be depressed, he was an Obama supporter?

Did you jump to the conclusion that only Republicans would take that position?

I like Walleroo's term, pyscho-poster. Maybe we can write a song? "Psycho-poster, qu'est-ce que c'est, fa fa fa fa fa...fa fa. fa ..better run run run away!"

sorry. psycho- poster.

Have you ever watched It Takes a Thief? Without even the horrid reality of those that tried to defend their home being tied up and killed, the violation of your personal space is life changing.
I would not hesitate to shoot someone breaking into my house, and no legislation would deter that.
A prisoner in custody taking their own life, of course we should try to prevent that and all the new technology and rules do. However when one is dedicated to a result there is not much to stop them in the long run.
As to the shock and asinine posters, I guess you'll grow up one day or not, but most just shake their heads and move on, because you're just a waste of bits. The only eye opener you provide is the fact that as stupid as you are, you can still figure out how to breathe.

The booking photo sure is spooky, to say the least. I heard about the robbery over the weekend from several of my neighbors, and never in my wildest imagination did I think these two stories were one in the same. For me, instead of heartlessly passing judgment on a man who took his own life, I'll instead go home tonight and make sure all our windows are securely locked. The only reason this guy failed to break into the house is because the woman inside had the good sense to make sure her home was securely locked while she was home. Still, it is hard to fathom that someone would try to break into a house in broad daylight while someone is home inside.

A human being is hanged. Clothes are hung on the line.

"The only eye opener you provide is the fact that as stupid as you are, you can still figure out how to breathe."

I'm not sure who that is directed to, but it's funny considering your entire post has the smooth syntax of a Sarah Palin statement. You might want to brush up on the English language before you go around calling others stupid.