Third Sonoma inmate found dead in as many weeks

Published October 19, 2014 11:27pm ET



SANTA ROSA, Calif. (AP) — The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office says an inmate with a history of drug abuse has been found dead in her jail cell, the third inmate death at a Sonoma County detention facility in three weeks.

Sgt. Cecile Focha said the inmate, 50-year-old Rhonda Everson, had undergone medical screening following her Friday night arrest for drug possession and violating parole. Focha says Everson was placed in a special unit for inmates going through drug withdrawal and checked on twice an hour.

On Saturday night, she was found without a pulse or any signs of injury.

The San Francisco Chronicle (http://bit.ly/11SIpPU) says a 37-year-old homicide suspect was found dead in his cell on Sept. 28. Officials reported that he had hung himself.

The newspaper says a 31-year-old man serving a drunken driving sentence was found dead in his bunk on Oct. 8.