Another Inmate Death In Pinellas County Jail

PINELLAS COUNTY—A woman who had been arrested for assault on a police officer has been found dead in her cell at the Pinellas County Jail.

The inmate, 50-year-old Jennifer DeGraw, was booked into the Clearwater jail on March 16 after she had been arrested by deputies for one count of battery on a law enforcement officer

According to detectives, DeGraw was found unresponsive in her cell by staff members at about 6:30 a.m. on Tuesday. She had been housed in a single-person cell within the Inmate Healthcare Building at the jail due to pre-existing medical conditions.

Deputies immediately alerted jail medical staff members and activated the 911 system. The inmate was transported to Northside Hospital at about 7:19 a.m. where she was pronounced deceased less than a half hour later.

Detectives say the inmate’s death does not appear suspicious; however an autopsy will be performed to determine the cause and manner of death.

Per policy, detectives assigned to the Sheriff’s Office Robbery/Homicide Unit and Administrative Investigation Division will investigate the death.

Florida’s most infamous husband, Michael Schiavo, is employed as a nurse and clinical supervisor at the jail. 3-24-09

A message for North Country Gazette readers: www.northcountrygazette.org/2009/03/22/a_message/