Polk investigating inmate’s death
The Polk County Sheriff's Office said detectives are investigating the death of a jail inmate Saturday.
Michael Neupert, 55, of Lakeland, was discovered unresponsive in his bunk in the Polk County Jail’s infirmary about 2:35 a.m. Just 10 minutes before, “he had been awake and interacting” with a nurse who checked on him, according to the Sheriff ’s Office.
The jail medical staff dialed 911 and started CPR, but Neupert could not be resuscitated, according to the Sheriff’s Office. Medics took Neupert to Bartow Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
Neupert had been in the infirmary since Thursday when he came back to the jail after a nearly two-week stay in the Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center. The Sheriff ’s Office said he had a history of medical issues including including diabetes, hypertension, COPD and reduced blood flow to the brain.
Neupert had been in the jail since May 23 on charges of failing to register as a sex offender. He was convicted of child porn possession charges in 2002, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
It is standard policy for investigations to be conducted after an inmate dies, according to the Sheriff’s Office. An internal review and death investigation will take place. The Polk County Medical Examiner will determine the manner and cause of death.
An autopsy is tentatively scheduled for Monday.