In-Custody Death Information
In-Custody Deaths
An In-Custody Inmate Death is defined as any inmate death that occurs in Siskiyou County Sheriff's Department Custody Services Division jail facilities, Court Services Division holding cells, while in the care and custody of a member of the Patrol Division, or in a hospital where an inmate is receiving care. For the purposes of In-Custody Inmate Deaths, an inmate is a person incarcerated in a local detention facility (Sheriff's Station), court holding cells, or Custody Operations facility.
In instances where an inmate is involved in a significant incident in-custody and their post-release death is directly related, it will be classified as an In-Custody Death. All In-Custody Deaths are reported to the Department of Justice within ten business days of the Department becoming aware of the death.
Each inmate death is unique and undergoes several thorough internal and external layers of investigation, review, and analysis. Each death is thoroughly investigated, and upon completion of an initial death investigation where criminality is suspected, the case is presented to the Siskiyou County District Attorney’s Office for prosecutorial consideration.
The In-Custody Death information shall be posted for the public to view on the agency's internet website within 10 days of the date of death, provided the Sheriff's Office is able to contact next of kin. If the Sheriff's Office seeks to notify the next of kin and is unable to notify them within 10 days of the death, the Sheriff's Office shall be given an additional 10 days to make good faith efforts to notify next of kin before the information shall be posted for the public to view on the agency's website. Additionally, if any of the information changes, including, but not limited to, the manner and means of death, the Sheriff's Office shall update the posting within 30 days of the change.
The Siskiyou County Coroner also investigates most in-custody deaths. Their investigation may include autopsy and pathology reports. Manner and means of death are posted on this webpage once the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office receives a final disposition on a cause of death from the Siskiyou County Coroner.
The below information is being provided in compliance with California Penal Code § 10008. We hope the information provided sheds light on In-Custody Deaths in Siskiyou County Jail facilities and demonstrates our ongoing commitment to transparency.
Current List of In-Custody Deaths
2025
Incident 001:
- Agency with custodial responsibility at time of death: Siskiyou County Sheriff's Office
- County in which death occurred: Siskiyou County
- Facility and location within that facility where death occurred: Fairchild Medical Center, Yreka, CA
- Decedent race: White
- Decedent gender: Female
- Decedent age: 51
- Date death occurred: 1/13/2025
- Custodial status of decedent: Non-Sentenced (Awaiting Trial)
- Manner and means of death: Other-Drug Overdose
