A routine late-night cell check at Contra Costa County's main jail turned into a fatal incident yesterday, when a deputy discovered an inmate unresponsive with a ligature around her neck at the West County Detention Facility in Richmond. Medical staff inside the jail and outside emergency responders tried to save her, but she was pronounced dead at the scene. County authorities later identified the woman as 59-year-old Robi Lynn Perley of Rio Vista, who had been booked the previous day in Antioch on suspicion of driving under the influence and a probation violation.
What officials say
According to The Mercury News, a deputy conducting routine safety checks around 12:25 AM found Perley in her cell with a ligature around her neck and unresponsive. The outlet reports that jail medical personnel and paramedics administered life-saving measures before she was declared dead inside the West County Detention Facility. The Mercury News notes that the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office and the District Attorney's Office have opened a joint investigation into the in-custody death.
At the jail
The West County Detention Facility, located at 5555 Giant Highway in Richmond, serves as Contra Costa County's primary jail. On the facility's public page, officials list general operations information along with the jail's main contact number. County press releases state that the sheriff's office typically offers public briefings and publishes tip line information when deaths occur in custody.
Arrest and identification
Perley had been taken into custody in Antioch on July 9 on suspicion of driving under the influence and for an alleged probation violation, according to The Mercury News. Investigators have not yet released a cause or manner of death. The District Attorney's Office is expected to review the findings from the sheriff's investigation as the case moves forward.
How to help
The Sheriff's Office is asking anyone who might have information related to the case to contact the Investigation Division at (925) 313-2600, email [email protected], or leave an anonymous tip at 866-846-3592, in line with guidance posted in Contra Costa Sheriff's press releases. Officials say they plan to release more details as the investigation develops.
Investigative process
The sheriff's office and the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office conduct joint investigations whenever someone dies in custody, and prior notices from the sheriff describe a countywide fatal incident protocol as the standard response. Authorities have not disclosed any findings from the medical examiner. The official cause and manner of Perley's death will be determined once the investigation and related reviews are complete.
