An inmate at Falkenburg Road Jail in Hillsborough County was found unresponsive on the evening last Saturday, and later pronounced dead at a local hospital, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office has reported.
The 79-year-old inmate, whose name has not been released pending notification of next of kin, was found by detention staff shortly after 11:30 p.m. Deputies, alongside medical staff, endeavored to administer life-saving aid before the Hillsborough County Fire Rescue arrived to transport him to Brandon Regional Hospital. According to the Sheriff's Office press release, the inmate had preexisting health conditions, including a recent diagnosis of congestive heart failure, and was on the waitlist for a transfer to Florida State Hospital.
The death of the inmate is currently under investigation by the Sheriff's Office. As standard procedure goes, the investigation aims to clarify the circumstances leading up to the death and determine whether any form of foul play or negligence took place. At this point, no additional information has been provided regarding the cause of death.
Officials have assured the public that further details will be disclosed as the investigation progresses. The investigation is ongoing and the Public Affairs Office will release any further updates, per the initial press release from the Sheriff's Office.
