16-year old inmate dies at the Okeechobee County Jail

Marianne Wellendorf
March 11, 2009 - 8:17AM

Yesterday afternoon Detention Deputies at the Okeechobee County Jail discovered the body of a 16-year old inmate, dead, in his cell.

He was found hanging by a bed sheet from the top bunk in his cell. Deputies cut the victim down and began CPR to save his life. Okeechobee County Fire and Rescue were called to the scene and the boy was pronounced dead soon after their arrival.

Deputies say every indication is that his death was suicide. At the time of his death he was locked in his cell alone. The other inmates in the pod were also locked alone in their cell. Surveillance footage indicates that no one approached the cell during this period of time.

His body has been taken to the Ft. Pierce Medical Examiner for an autopsy and those results will take at least 8 weeks.

The boy was in the county jail to face adult charges of Aggravated Battery. A criminal investigation is ongoing to make sure no foul play exists and an internal investigation will be conducted to review the actions and procedures used by the officers.