MOUNT VERNON, N.Y. — Officials in New York are investigating the holding-cell death of a woman who waited two days for arraignment on a shoplifting arrest.
Mount Vernon Mayor Ernest Davis says Raynette Turner, 43, was found dead Monday afternoon.
Raynette Turner was found dead in a jail cell. (Handout)
Turner was arrested Saturday at a wholesale food store and was being held for a Monday arraignment. They say that on Sunday night she reported not feeling well and was taken by ambulance to a hospital, then returned to her cell a few hours later.
The officials say Turner was found dead at 2 p.m. Monday, when she was to be arraigned.
The Turner family says they don’t believe this is a case of police brutality, but police neglect. They say they’re afraid that she was denied urgent medical attention that could have saved her life. The mother of eight had a history of serious medical issues.
Police tell PIX11 that Turner did receive medical attention Sunday and she was observed sleeping in her cell on Monday.
An autopsy is pending.
The death in Texas of a jailed woman earlier this month has drawn national attention. Authorities have ruled Sandra Bland’s death a suicide.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
