Authorities Friday announced that an inmate suffered an unspecified medical emergency and died at the Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta, marking the fourth custody death in the county’s correctional system in the last four weeks.
The detainee, whose identity was not immediately released, was discovered unconscious in his cell at the southwest Riverside County jail about 5:40 p.m. Thursday, according to sheriff’s Capt. David Holm.
He said that correctional deputies and in-house medical personnel attempted lifesaving measures until county fire paramedics reached the location, but their resuscitative efforts were for naught.
The inmate was pronounced dead at 5:59 p.m.
“The cause of death will be determined by the coroner’s bureau,” Holm said. “There are no signs of foul play.”
The fatality is the fourth custody death in the county’s correctional system within the last four weeks.
The sheriff’s department did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the previous three losses, and whether there might be a common thread.