Meng-Ju \Mark"" Wu, a former UW-Madison student facing three counts of first-degree intentional homicide, committed suicide in his cell early Monday morning at the Dane County Jail.
Using fabric torn from a pillow case or sheet, Wu created a noose which he attached to a sprinkler head in his cell before jumping off either his bunk or a bar on his cell door. The sprinkler head was designed to be nearly impossible to use in suicide attempts.
Wu, 20, was charged in July 2003 with the killings of Jason McGuigan, 28, Dustin Wilson, 17, and Daniel Swanson, 25. The three were shot to death June 26, 2003 in a Verona apartment.
Wu's trial was scheduled to start Tuesday. His defense has suggested the long duration of his stay could have been a factor in his suicide.
The prosecution, however, has stated the solid evidence against Wu was the probable cause of the suicide.
