An Oklahoma County Detention Center inmate was found dead in his cell early yesterday morning, according to authorities. Steven Woods, age 45, was discovered unresponsive around 4:05 a.m. as a detention officer was distributing breakfast, as reported by KFOR. Despite immediate efforts by medical staff to perform life-saving measures, these attempts were unsuccessful.
Initial investigations suggest that the death of Woods, who had been booked on December 8 on charges of trafficking illegal drugs, may have been a suicide. He was jailed with a bond set at $25,000, KFOR notes. His demise came as a part of a grim ritual seen too often behind bars, where despair often grips tightly those caught in its walls. Troubling still, is the revelation from The Oklahoman that Woods was last recorded alive at a 3:43 a.m. check, mere minutes before found without the whisper of life left in him.
The family of the deceased has been notified of his passing, a painful ritual of finality that delivers the news no family should have to hear. KOCO added that the procedure following such incidents dictates all deaths in custody are investigated as homicides until a final ruling is decreed by the Oklahoma State Medical Examiner's Office. This is standard protocol in the delicate dance of due diligence and justice.
The Oklahoma County Detention Center's officials have stated that the circumstances surrounding Wood's death are under rigorous investigation.
