Mattoon Man Dies from Injuries Suffered at Coles Courthouse

A Mattoon man has died from injuries received in a fall at Coles County Courthouse in Charleston earlier this week.

Coles County Coroner Duane Northrup said 49-year-old James Brigham was pronounced dead at Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana at 3:46pm Thursday.

An investigation is underway in hopes of determining whether Brigham jumped or fell from the second floor railing at the Courthouse and landed on the first floor. The incident occurred on Tuesday.

An autopsy to help determine the cause of Brigham's death is scheduled for Saturday. An inquest could be scheduled at a later date.

The Illinois State Police is assisting the coroner's office in the investigation into Brigham's death. Brigham was in the custody of Coles County sheriff's deputies at the time of the incident as he was due for a court appearance, which is why State Police are assisting in the investigation.

Brigham was in custody after being arrested in December for allegedly giving a false alarm about a bomb. The day of the incident, Brigham had also been in court for a hearing in a divorce case.