Man accused of stealing Schumacher records found dead in jail cell

Schumacher fans hold a vigil outside the Grenoble hospital in January 2014 in honor of the F1 champion’s birthday

A man accused of stealing Michael Schumacher’s medical records following Schumacher’s skiing accident and consequent hospitalization was found hanged in his jail cell. Previous reports surfaced that the Formula One champion’s medical records were stolen and being offered for sale to the media. Subsequently, a man was arrested on suspicion of being involved in the theft of the files.

Reports did not identify the man but said that he is an employee of Swiss helicopter rescue company Rega. The company transported Schumacher from a hospital in Grenoble, France, to a hospital in Switzerland in June.

The man had been incarcerated in a Zurich police holding cell. He was reportedly found hanged in his jail cell when police officers came to deliver his breakfast. Initial investigation reported that no one else was involved in the hanging.

Sabine Kehm, Schumacher’s spokesman, reportedly expressed shock at the incident.

The records were being offered to different media outlets for €50,000. The IP address of the computer used in the records theft was traced to Rega and the man later arrested on suspicion of theft. The prosecution had emphasized that the man should be presumed innocent unless proven otherwise.

It’s the latest bizarre incident in the F1 champ’s debilitating accident. Previously, a reported had reportedly posed as a priest in an attempt to gain access to Schumacher at the hospital.