Veteran Salt Lake prosecutor commits suicide


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SALT LAKE CITY — A 17-year veteran prosecutor with the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office died Monday after apparently jumping from a downtown parking structure.

Chad Platt, 46, was found dead near 81 E. 300 South about 5:30 a.m. Monday.

The death has been ruled a suicide, but Salt Lake police detective Greg Wilking declined to say how investigators reached that conclusion.

A woman who lives next door to Platt's Salt Lake home who declined to provide her name said about 15 officers in unmarked vehicles forced their way into Platt's home early Friday with rifles drawn and removed a number of items. She said she asked one of the officers what was going on.

"They said they were serving a search warrant but they couldn't give me any information, and his patch did say 'Internet Crimes,'" the woman said.

Daniel Burton, a spokesman for the Utah Attorney General's Office, declined to say Tuesday whether its Internet Crimes Against Children task force served a search warrant at the house or whether Platt was under investigation.

"Chad was a valued colleague and friend. We were heartbroken to learn of his death," said Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill.

Platt worked as a line prosecutor and handled cases involving asset forfeitures as well as participating in committees that handled legislative affairs, Gill said, adding that many people in the district attorney's office were close to him.

"Our thoughts are with his family at this time and he will be missed in our office," he said.

Gill said no one in the office saw any signs that would lead them to believe Platt was suicidal. Gill said it would be "inappropriate and disrespectful" to speculate on what was going through his head."

Platt, who was never married and has no children, is survived by family members in Arizona.

Contributing: Nicole Vowell

Suicide prevention
If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, KSL encourages you to call the suicide prevention hotline at 1-800-273-TALK.

Crisis Hotlines

  • Utah County Crisis Line: 801-226-4433
  • Salt Lake County/UNI Crisis Line: 801-587-3000
  • Wasatch Mental Health Crisis Line: 801-373-7393
  • National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
  • Trevor Project Hotline for LGBTQ teens: 1-866-488-7386

Online resources

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