Press releases
From Inyo County Sheriff’s Office
On Saturday, December 24th, 2016, at about 5:00 am, Inyo County Jail Staff was conducting wake up at the facility. Jail Staff attempted to wake up a 46 year old female who was in a cell by herself.
Jail Staff found the 46 year old female unresponsive and deceased. No foul play is suspected.
The identity of the 46 year old female has not been released due to notification of next of kin.
Investigators from the Sheriff’s Department and the District Attorney’s Office responded. As protocol, the Inyo County District Attorney’s Office is handling the in-custody death investigation.
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From Inyo County District Attorney’s Office
The Inyo County District Attorney’s office confirms that the Sheriff’s Department has, per standard protocol, requested our office to assume investigation of the December 24, 2016 death of an Inyo County Jail inmate.
The initial inquiry does not indicate any foul play. The investigation is in its initial stages, and more information will be released when appropriate.
She was a beautiful lady with a great family. My love and condolences go out to them all.
Anytime there is an in-custody death, it should be handled by an outside, non-affiliated agency. The Inyo DA’s investigators aren’t buddies with the Inyo Sheriff investigators ? No, I’m not slamming either agency, but there has to be an impartial look-see. just sayin’…
I’m sure there willl be an autopsy. Who conducts the autopsy? It seems like an out-of-county agency should conduct the autopsy, otherwise Inyo investigating itself might not yield impartial results. I know medical care in the jail is minimal. I wonder if it is documented if an inmate expresses health… Read more »