MISSION, Kansas — A former detective from Kansas took his own life just before facing a federal trial last month, where he stood accused of committing numerous sexual assaults and inflicting terror on vulnerable Black women over many years. This tragic development was confirmed by investigators on Tuesday.
Roger Golubski, aged 71 and white, had left his home for his court appearance around 8:30 a.m. on December 2. However, he returned home instead of proceeding to the courthouse located approximately 50 miles (80 kilometers) away in Topeka, according to a statement from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI).
Golubski was confronting six felony charges related to the civil rights violations of women. Prosecutors alleged that he targeted women in impoverished areas, demanding sexual favors and issuing threats of harm or imprisonment to their relatives should they refuse his advances.
The allegations sparked outrage within the community and further fueled a deep-seated distrust of law enforcement. The prosecution arose amidst a broader narrative of reported abuses across the nation, which have led to the dismissal of many police officers following similar claims of sexual misconduct.
Prior to his death, Golubski had maintained a not guilty plea. His attorney, Christopher Joseph, had commented that legal actions tied to cases associated with Golubski were merely “an inspiration for fabrication” by those accusing him.
On the day he died, a roommate reported hearing a gunshot around 9 a.m., shortly after Golubski had made several calls to his family and legal representative, said the KBI. Emergency services were immediately contacted, and upon arrival, officials discovered Golubski deceased on the back porch of his split-level residence.
The autopsy ultimately determined that Golubski succumbed to a gunshot wound to the head, concluding that his death was a suicide. Law enforcement discovered a handgun at the scene, which had been linked to a woman in Kansas City, Missouri, who reported the gun stolen from her car in 2022. However, investigators were unable to ascertain how Golubski had come into possession of the firearm or establish any links between him and the gun’s owner.
Central to the charges against Golubski were the testimonies of two women: one claimed that he initiated a pattern of sexual abuse when she was in middle school, while another recounted that the abuse began shortly following the arrest of her twin sons. Prosecutors revealed that an additional seven women were prepared to testify regarding their experiences of abuse or harassment by Golubski.
Although Golubski has passed away, a separate criminal case still proceeds against three co-defendants, which involves accusations tied to a violent sex trafficking operation.
