Lee County inmate found unconscious, dies despite rescue efforts; investigation ongoing – CNAW 2 with Colin Scroggins

A Lee County inmate has died after being found unconscious in his cell Saturday morning.

The inmate was discovered at approximately 4:45 a.m. CDT on Saturday, July 20, 2024, by Lee County Sheriff’s Department Correctional Officers conducting cell checks and serving breakfast.

The Opelika Fire Department and ETS EMS responded and despite life-saving efforts, the inmate was pronounced dead at 5:10 a.m. “At first glance, the inmate showed no signs of trauma,” officials said.

The 39-year-old male inmate, whose identity is being withheld pending notification of next of kin, was booked into the Lee County Detention Facility on July 17, 2024 on four (4) warrants for failure to appear charging domestic violence, petty drug possession, and two (2) traffic violations.

“Standard policy requires an outside agency to conduct the investigation, and at the request of Sheriff Jones, Russell County Sheriff’s investigators have assumed primary investigative responsibility,” the sheriff’s office added. The inmate will be transported to the Department of Forensic Sciences for an autopsy.