His family blamed the prosecution process for contributing to his death.
Matthew Perna, a Capitol rioter who was awaiting sentencing, died by suicide, according to the Mercer County Coroner’s office. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette first reported the news. Perna, of Sharpsville, about 70 miles north of Pittsburgh, pleaded guilty to charges of witness tampering, entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds and two counts of disorderly conduct in late 2021 for his role in the Jan.
