James Kauffman dead in apparent suicide at jail

A Hudson County spokesman confirmed Dr. James Kauffman was found dead of an apparent suicide at about 9:20 Friday morning. Next of kin has been notified, James Kennelly said. Defense attorney Lou Barbone said Kauffman died at the jail, but he could get no additional information at this point. The Hudson County Prosecutor's Office investigates all deaths within the jail, Kennelly said. There are cameras inside the jail. Kauffman has been jailed since June 13, when investigators came to serve a search warrant at his Egg Harbor Township practice and he pulled a gun, threatening to kill himself. The nearly 40-minute standoff was captured on a police officer's body camera. Earlier this month, he was charged in his wife's 2012 death. Kauffman ordered a hit on his wife, veterans advocate and local radio host April Kauffman, after she found out about his alleged Oxycontin ring, according to the charges. His alleged partner, Pagan leader Ferdinand "Freddy" Augello, is accused of setting up the killing. Augello also is accused of trying to kill James Kauffman after his arrest this past summer. After that alleged plot was uncovered, Kauffman was moved to the Hudson County jail for his protection. At the time, Kennelly told BreakingAC that Kauffman was in “Close Custody,” which is housing in a single cell. That would be for 30 days pending a classification review. That “review” would have dictated his housing assignment. On Tuesday, Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon Tyner released a nearly hourlong video from the day of the standoff, including Kauffman being questioned by investigators and being taken onto an ambulance to go to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center's City Campus for evaluation. When he asked why he was going to the hospital, Kauffman was told because of his suicide threat. "Cut me a break," he said. "I'm not nuts." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYnJ4l_ifaQ