TOPEKA, Kan. — A former detective in Kansas has died in an apparent suicide right before he was set to go on trial for civil rights offenses, specifically for allegedly assaulting and intimidating vulnerable women for many years. Roger Golubski, 71, was found deceased on his back porch after a neighbor reported a gunshot, and initial investigations indicate no foul play involved. Notably, Golubski was under house arrest and had been explicitly prohibited from possessing any firearms, according to the judge’s order.
Golubski’s death came just as the jury selection was about to start at the federal courthouse in Topeka, prompting questions about how he had access to a weapon and why he was not being held in custody. Authorities are looking into how the firearm ended up in Golubski’s residence in Edwardsville, located near Kansas City. “We will investigate how he acquired the weapon as we continue our inquiry into his death,” stated Melissa Underwood, a spokeswoman for the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.
Golubski had faced severe allegations; he was charged in 2022 with multiple felonies concerning the civil rights violations of women and girls. Prosecutors claimed he had sexually abused them and used threats of incarceration against them and their families to manipulate their compliance. The trial would have centered around two specific candidates—one woman reported that Golubski started abusing her during her middle school years, while another claimed he began targeting her after her sons’ arrests. Prosecutors also indicated that seven additional women were ready to provide testimony about their own experiences of being abused or harassed by Golubski. Advocates for the victims strongly suspect that there are other individuals who faced Golubski’s wrath but have either passed away or are too afraid to come forward with their stories. The accused, a white male, was alleged to have primarily victimized Black women and girls residing in some of Kansas City’s most impoverished neighborhoods, highlighting issues of systemic inequality.
The prosecution against Golubski gained momentum in the wake of various sexual assault allegations that resulted in police officers across the United States losing their jobs. Following the news of Golubski’s death, prosecutors requested a dismissal of the case, which the judge granted.
Questions are surfacing regarding why Golubski was under house arrest rather than in jail. After Golubski’s indictment by a federal grand jury in September 2022, prosecutors sought to have him incarcerated immediately. However, U.S. Magistrate Judge Rachel Schwartz turned down their motion, asserting that although the allegations were alarming, Golubski posed less of a threat compared to the time the alleged offenses occurred. An attorney defending Golubski characterized him as “sick and infirm,” citing health issues that required ongoing medical attention, including treatment for diabetes and following a quintuple bypass heart surgery, along with regular kidney dialysis.
Accusers of Golubski feel that he had an inappropriate degree of freedom while under house arrest. Discontent was particularly heightened when they encountered footage showing him at a local restaurant after a medical appointment earlier in the year. Although conditions of his house arrest were made stricter afterwards, he was still not placed in custody. “Many people believe, whether rightly or wrongly, that had they found themselves in Golubski’s situation, they would have faced detention,” remarked attorney Cheryl Pilate, who represents some of Golubski’s accusers.
Barry Grissom, the former top federal prosecutor in Kansas from 2010 to 2016, addressed the issue, explaining that Golubski’s long-standing connections to Kansas City were factors considered in keeping him out of jail. Judge Schwartz mandated that Golubski remain at home, only allowed to leave for religious activities or medical care, and prohibited him from possessing a passport. “He hadn’t been convicted yet—he was still presumed innocent, as it is with anyone,” Grissom added.
Questions regarding how Golubski obtained a firearm remain unanswered. Sean O’Brien, a law professor, suggested that while police would have conducted a search of Golubski’s residence at the start of his house arrest, there was no ongoing surveillance. “Once he was in that situation, anyone could have visited him and potentially brought a weapon, or perhaps the initial search was insufficient,” he noted.
Golubski had a lengthy career with the Kansas City Police Department until his retirement in 2010, after which he worked for the Edwardsville police until 2016. Edwardsville’s Police Chief Rance Quinn stated in an email that their officers are issued firearms, which are permitted to be stored off departmental premises if officers are in good standing; however, he confirmed that Golubski did not receive such a gift upon his departure in 2016, and that the firearm found at his location was not one issued by the Edwardsville PD.
The state of Golubski’s mental health leading up to his death is also of interest. Christopher Joseph, Golubski’s lead lawyer, stated he had scheduled to meet Golubski on the day he was found dead, expressing that he saw no warning signs of impending distress. “I had been in constant contact with Roger, including throughout the weekend. We were optimistic about our chances for acquittal,” Joseph explained. He added that Golubski believed he would not receive a fair trial due to media coverage surrounding his case, and that it was on the morning of his death that Joseph learned Golubski felt deep despondency about the public narrative.
Concerns over justice are still looming following Golubski’s passing. Many lawsuits and allegations have arisen, prompting the Wyandotte County prosecutor’s office to launch a significant initiative to review cases linked to his history as a police officer. One notable wrongful conviction linked to Golubski resulted in a man being exonerated after spending 23 years in prison, alongside $14 million in government compensation awarded to him. Additionally, a criminal justice organization founded by rapper Jay-Z is currently seeking access to police documentation. Attorney Cheryl Pilate asserted that only a fraction of Golubski’s victims have come forward, emphasizing that his trial would have been an important step toward holding local police and governmental authorities accountable for their actions. “And when the moment for accountability finally came, it was taken away from them,” she lamented.
