EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. (AP) — Authorities say a jail inmate in southwestern Illinois’ Madison County has hanged himself.

Illinois State Police say the body of 55-year-old Kenneth Simpson was found before dawn Thursday. He hanging from a piece of cloth tied to the bars of his cell door. That discovery came just 18 minutes after a guard checked on Simpson and found nothing wrong.

Simpson was awaiting trial on charges of aggravated criminal sexual assault and aggravated unlawful restraint. Those felonies related to a 2011 Maryville police investigation.

Prosecutors on Wednesday accused him of trying to arrange for someone to kidnap a female witness against him.

Sheriff Robert Hertz says Simpson never gave authorities an indication he would harm himself.

Simpson was convicted in 2000 of sexually attacking a 7-year-old child.