Male inmate from St. Louis in Monroe County Jail dies

An inmate in the Monroe County Jail died Monday morning after he was found unresponsive in his cell.

Illinois State Police Lt. Dave Bivens said Tuesday the 39-year-old male, who is from St. Louis, “had what appeared was a self-inflicted injury, which we believe caused his death.” Bivens did not elaborate on the injury suffered by the inmate, whose identity was not released.

Monroe County Sheriff’s Department staff located the man at 9:31 a.m. Monday. He was rushed to St. Anthony’s Hospital in St. Louis County, where he was pronounced dead, Sheriff Neal Rohlfing said in a statement.

State Police were asked to investigate the death under the rules of a new state law that, once it becomes effective, requires the deaths of inmates in police custody to be investigated independently. That state law, which also governs police use of body cameras, is effective Jan. 1.

News-Democrat

This story was originally published December 15, 2015 at 4:38 PM with the headline "Male inmate from St. Louis in Monroe County Jail dies."