Prosecutor: Death Won't Stop Trade Secrets Theft Probe

PITTSBURGH (AP) - Authorities in western Pennsylvania say the death of a retired PPG Industries researcher accused of having stolen trade secrets for a Chinese company won't stop the investigation.

The Allegheny County medical examiner's office said Sunday that 62-year-old Thomas Rukavina was found dead of asphyxiation on Friday night in his Plum Township home. His death was ruled suicide after an autopsy Saturday.

Rukavina was arrested May 7 and later indicted on charges of having stolen trade secrets on plastic windows for use on aircraft and high-speed trains that PPG says are worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

U.S. Attorney David Hickton told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that the FBI will continue to spearhead the spy probe but he couldn't be more specific due to the "sensitive nature" of the case.

Join The Conversation On The KDKA Facebook Page
Stay Up To Date, Follow KDKA On Twitter

(Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)