Marty L. Rainey, a former Gasconade County law enforcement officer facing state and federal charges involving a series of assaults on women, was found dead in his cell in the Ste. Genevieve County jail Saturday morning.

Ste. Genevieve County Sheriff’s Major Jason Schott said the Missouri State Highway Patrol was investigating an “in-custody death,” which is standard procedure. “At this point, it appears to be a suicide, but the investigation is ongoing,” he said.

Asked if Rainey had been on suicide watch, Schott declined to answer, citing the ongoing investigation and saying he would not answer any specific questions. He said that video from jail cameras was being downloaded and staff was being interviewed.

Rainey’s attorney, Christian Goeke, said that he was notified by the U.S. Marshals of Rainey’s death Saturday morning.

Goeke said the marshals had then notified Rainey’s wife.

Reached Saturday night, U.S. Attorney Richard Callahan said, “This is certainly not an outcome that our office was seeking. I have sympathy for this family.”

Representatives of the U.S. Marshals and the Highway Patrol did not immediately return messages seeking comment.