In the early hours of Wednesday, a 51-year-old female inmate was found unresponsive at the Lauderdale County Detention Center, prompting an investigation into her untimely death. According to the Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office, corrections staff discovered the woman in a holding cell around 2:00 AM. Despite the immediate response of an on-duty nurse, the inmate was pronounced dead at the scene.
The woman had been taken into custody by Florence Police the previous evening, around 5:00 PM on Tuesday, and was charged with driving under the influence (DUI). Initial reports suggest that she may have experienced a medical episode prior to her death. Upon the arrival of Lauderdale County Coroner Kim Jones, the decision was made to officially declare the inmate deceased.
Authorities have withheld the woman’s identity pending notification of her family. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death has been referred to the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI). Additionally, the Department of Forensic Sciences has been assigned to perform an autopsy to further understand the cause of death.