Inmate Death at Shelby County Jail Under Investigation, No Foul Play Suspected

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation revealed the sad news that an inmate, identified as 60-year-old Lawrence Sumlin, was declared deceased at Shelby County Jail last Friday morning. According to WREG, the circumstances surrounding Sumlin’s unconsciousness in custody are still being investigated, and an autopsy is planned to ascertain the exact cause of death.

To further focus attention on this incident, Shelby County Sheriff Floyd Bonner told FOX13 Memphis that he believes Sumlin may have died in the jail’s intake area due to a medical emergency; the investigation is still in its early phases, and there is currently no suspicion of foul play. In reference to the spate of in-custody deaths this year, Bonner stated, “Most of them are related to medical reasons.” He also mentioned that Sumlin had recently been charged with burglary.

Inquiring further about the frequency of these occurrences, Bonner admitted that about six deaths had taken place at the jail in 2024, with the most recent one maybe being related to a similar medical issue. “Just because you come to the jail doesn’t mean that you’re all of a sudden going to get help,” Bonner said in response to the underlying health hazards faced by the incarcerated population, acknowledging the medical vulnerabilities that currently exist among those who are detained, as reported by FOX13 Memphis.

The sheriff explained how new inmates go through a medical intake process and emphasized that the prison has a full-time medical staff. According to Bonner, privacy laws and the latent nature of some illnesses may prevent some health issues from being disclosed despite these efforts. “Our medical staff is available around-the-clock. The questions are posed at intake. In an attempt to emphasize the jail’s dedication to the welfare of its inmates, he said, “There’s a process during intake when you ask all medical-related questions,” indicating that a thorough investigation was still ongoing, according to The Daily Memphian.

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