Ex-Kansas detective accused of sexually assaulting black women, preying on women for decades is dead, prosecutors say

TOPEKA, Kan.— A white Kansas police detective accused of sexually assaulting black women and girls — and terrorizing those who tried to fight back — is dead, prosecutors said as his trial was set to begin Monday.Prosecutors say female residents of poor neighborhoods in Kansas City, Kansas, feared that if they crossed paths with Roger Golubski, he’d demand sexual favors and threaten to harm or jail their relatives.Golubski, 71, was facing six felony counts of violating women’s civil rights.

But he did not appear in court Monday morning for the start of jury selection.Prosecutors later confirmed in court that Golubski has died.

They did not say how or when he died.Allegations at the heart of the case — that Golubski preyed on women for decades with seeming impunity — have outraged the community and deepened the historical distrust of law enforcement.The prosecution followed earlier reports of similar abuse allegations across the country where hundreds of officers have lost their badges after allegations of sexual assaults.Cheryl Pilate, an attorney representing women who’ve said they were abused or threatened, called for a thorough investigation of Golubski’s death by officials with no ties to local police.“The community was looking forward to justice, to a full and public accounting and now that has been denied to them,” Pilate said.About 50 people had a short rally in sub-freezing temperatures outside the federal courthouse in Topeka to show their support for the women accusing Golubski of abusing them, breaking up before the announcement of his death.

They held signs with slogans such as, “Justice Now!”Golubski had pleaded not guilty to the charges.After he failed to appear in court Monday, his lead attorney, Christopher Joseph, said his client “was despondent about the media coverage.” He did not elaborate.US District Judge Toby Crouse dismissed the case against Golubski at prosecutors’ request.

Joseph called the death “tr...