Examiner confirms another jail death

The Cobb County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed Friday that it has received the body of a person who died recently in custody of the county Sheriff ’s Office.

The deceased appears to be the 10th person housed at the jail to die in custody since December 2018 and the third this year.

An autopsy is scheduled for today. The ME’S office declined to identify the deceased pending notification of next of kin and referred questions to t he Sheriff ’s Office.

The Sheriff ’ s Office did not respond to a request for comment.

In September, District Attorney J oyette Holmes asked the U.S. Department of Justice to conduct an independent investigation of inmate deaths at the Cobb County Adult Detention Center following a public outcry over conditions at the jail.

Holmes, who has since lost her bid for reelection, referred questions Friday to the Department of Justice.

The DOJ has previously acknowledged receiving the request. A spokesman said Friday he could not confirm or deny the existence of an investigation.

The following people have died at the jail since December, 2018:

Reginald Wilson, 54, who was mentally ill, died of dehydration. He was found unresponsive in his cell on Dec. 29, 2018.

Jessie Myles, 31, died of a drug overdose in a holding cell on Feb. 25, 2019.

Bradley Emory, 33, was found unresponsive in the shower with a sheet around his neck March 10, 2019. His death was ruled suicide.

Steven Davis, 37, died of unknown natural causes on June 8, 2019, according to the county medical examiner.

William Kocour, 63, died Sept. 10, 2019, of cirrhosis of the liver.

Kevil Wingo, 36, died Sept. 29, 2019 from complications of a perforated gastric ulcer. Wingo died in an isolation cell after making multiple requests for medical attention.

Christopher Hart, 45, died Nov. 17, 2019 of a ruptured spleen after he fell in his cell.

Stephanie Nicole White, 39, was found unresponsive in her cell on June 19, 2020, hours after being treated at the jail infirmary for chest pain, shortness of breath and vomiting. An autopsy concluded she died of coronary artery disease.

A woman who died in custody in August has yet to be publicly identified.