Tragedy struck again behind bars as Cook County Jail inmate Michael O'Connor, 33, was found dead after being discovered unresponsive in his cell on Monday. As reported by the Chicago Tribune, the inmate was housed in the jail's Residential Treatment Unit when correctional staff found him unconscious. Despite immediate life-saving measures attempted by security and Cermak Health Services medical staff, O'Connor was pronounced dead at Mount Sinai Hospital.
Sheriff's office has ruled out foul play in the immediate assessment of the situation, the Chicago Tribune reported. However, the definitive cause of O'Connor's death remains undetermined as the Cook County medical examiner's office awaits further investigation, with an autopsy returning inconclusive. The case has drawn the attention of the Illinois State Police Public Integrity Task force, which is currently investigating the incident.
O'Connor was awaiting trial for multiple felony charges related to harassment and threats made to a Chicago police officer. The Chicago Sun-Times adds that before his death, O'Connor was held on a $100,000 D-bond and faced charges including aggravated intimidation of a peace officer and harassment involving obscene proposals and threats to kill.
His contentious relationship with the law would seem to have taken a new turn within the walls of the Cook County Jail, where O'Connor was also charged with two counts of aggravated battery to correctional staff, as specialized treatment and psychiatric examination were ordered by a judge, per the Chicago Tribune. A hearing scheduled for January 12 was to determine if O'Connor was fit to stand trial. Relatives of the deceased inmate have declined to comment.
