Capitol rioter died by suicide before sentencing
Matthew Perna, a Capitol rioter who was awaiting sentencing, died by suicide, according to the Mercer County (Pa.) Coroner’s office.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette first reported the news.
Perna, of Sharpsville, about 70 miles north of Pittsburgh, pleaded guilty to charges of witness tampering, entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds and two counts of disorderly conduct in late 2021 for his role in the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol building, which occurred after the “Stop The Steal” rally, which Perna also took part in.
Perna, 37, died on Feb. 25, according to an obituary written by his family, on the one-year anniversary of his indictment. His family blamed the prosecution process for contributing to his death.
After the FBI posted images of Perna in an attempt to identify him, a person who knew him informed investigators that Perna supported Trump and the QAnon conspiracy theory on social media.
According to his family, Perna turned himself into the FBI when he learned authorities were searching for him and he pleaded guilty in December to all the charges levied against him. His sentencing had been set for April 1.