Jail Cell Death: Snohomish Sheriff Investigates Sudden Loss

A man was discovered unresponsive in his cell at the Snohomish County Jail on Sunday around 10:13 a.m., according to the Snohomish County Sheriff's Office. The discovery prompted an immediate investigation into the circumstances of the death.

Corrections deputies stated that a staff member was assisting a nurse with medication when they found the individual inside the facility. Medical personnel immediately began resuscitation efforts. Despite these attempts, the man could not be revived, and his death was confirmed by deputies on scene.

The man had been taken into custody on Oct. 29 by Everett police officers. He was booked into the jail for possession of a controlled substance and for violating a Stay Out of Drug Area order. The Sheriff's Office has not yet released the man's name or his official cause of death.

The Snohomish County Sheriff's Office said the Snohomish County Medical Examiner's Office will determine the specific cause and manner of the death. Meanwhile, the Sheriff's Office Major Crimes Unit is conducting a death investigation to examine the events leading up to the discovery.

In addition to the criminal investigation, the sheriff's office announced that an unexpected fatality review will take place. This review examines the death from a clinical standpoint and operates independently of the Major Crimes Unit's probe. The review is standard procedure for deaths occurring within custody.