'Detergent suicide' blamed for death at IU

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (WISH) - Students and staff at both Indiana University Bloomington and Warren Central High School are mourning the loss of 21-year-old Greg Willoughby, Jr. who IU Police say took his own life with a deadly gas Tuesday.

Willoughby was a Wells scholar. His senior class at Warren Central voted him "most likely to be a millionaire." No one expected him to die by a practice called, "detergent suicide."

IU Bloomington Police say they think he committed suicide Tuesday by sealing himself in his dorm room and using the extremely dangerous gas called Hydrogen Sulfide or, H ₂S.

The gas forced hundreds of students to evacuate Willkie Residence Hall. Authorities later found Willoughby's body in a closet with a sign that read “Warning H ₂S “on the door.

Detergent suicides involve the mixing of several common household products to produce the deadly gas.

"It is a method that was developed in Japan that is now apparently becoming more prevalent in the United States unfortunately," said Amy Tobias of Mental Health America of Greater Indianapolis.

Experts say suicides among young people ages 15 to 24 are the third leading cause of death in the U.S. They also say there were roughly 700 suicides last year in that age group and that number is rising.

"The difference with the youth is they're in the depths of emotional pain and they don't see any way out. They don't necessarily want to die, but they don't see beyond tomorrow… of things getting any better," Tobias said.

Willoughby was the model student at Warren Central. They say he was a member of the National Honor Society, played in the orchestra and took part in the Science Olympiad.

Warren Central wouldn't allow us to talk with any teachers who may have known Willoughby but Principal Rich Shepler released this statement:

"The Warren Central family is both shocked and saddened by the sudden loss of Gregory. Our collective thoughts and prayers go out to his family and all those who knew this fine young man."