St. Charles County inmate found dead in cell Tuesday

ST. CHARLES, Missouri – A death investigation has been launched after an inmate at the St. Charles County Correctional Facility was found unconscious early Tuesday morning.

A St. Charles County spokesman said the 39-year-old inmate got up from his bunk to use the bathroom in his cell around 3:30 a.m. Tuesday. He did not return to his bunk and was unresponsive when correctional officers conducted their 15-minute wellness checks, which are performed 24 hours a day on all new inmates at the county jail.

Correctional and medical staff began resuscitating the inmate with breathing apparatus and used a defibrillator until EMS arrived at 4:10 a.m. and took over care, the district said. The inmate was pronounced dead at 4:45 a.m.

According to the county, the inmate, whose name was withheld pending notification of his next of kin, arrived at the facility on May 22 and was in withdrawal from fentanyl and other drugs.

No contraband was found and there was no indication that the inmate had acquired drugs at the facility or that he had committed self-inflicted death or died as a result of crime, the spokesman said.

County police have taken over the ongoing investigation and the St. Charles County Coroner will perform an autopsy.

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