NEW YORK - A once-prominent neurologist, who previously worked at Drexel University and was convicted last month of sexually abusing patients, killed himself Monday at a New York City jail, two people familiar with the matter said.Dr.
Ricardo Cruciani, 68, was found unresponsive in a shower area at the Eric M. Taylor Center, a jail at the notorious Rikers Island complex, the people said.
They were not authorized to speak publicly and did so on condition of anonymity.Cruciani's lawyer, Frederick Sosinsky, confirmed in a statement that his client had died, but not the manner of death."Ricardo’s attorneys and family are shocked and saddened beyond belief to have learned of his violent death while in city custody this morning," he said.Prosecutors said Cruciani groomed vulnerable patients by overprescribing painkillers, sometimes to treat serious injuries from car wrecks and other accidents.Six women testified the sexual abuse often occurred behind closed doors during appointments in 2013 at a Manhattan medical center, where the doctor would expose himself and demand sex."I take comfort knowing he now faces another judge," said Terrie Phoenix, who testified against Cruciani at trial.He was also scheduled to go on trial next January on federal charges accusing him of abusing multiple patients over 15 years at his offices in New York City, Philadelphia and Hopewell, New Jersey.Cruciani denied abusing women.