A 47-year-old inmate who was found unresponsive in his cell at George Bailey Detention Facility and died Saturday at Scripps Mercy Hospital killed himself by hanging, the Medical Examiner’s Office announced Monday.
“The Medical Examiner’s Office has completed an autopsy of Mr. (Jonathan) McDowell and determined the preliminary cause of death was asphyxia due to hanging; the manner of death was suicide,” according to a statement from the office.
McDowell, 47, of Ramona, was pronounced dead around 5 p.m. Saturday at Scripps Mercy Hospital, according to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department.
McDowell was found unresponsive in his cell on July 19. Deputies and jail medical staff provided medical aid, including CPR, Naloxone and an automated external defibrillator until he was taken to the hospital.
McDowell was arrested Feb. 20 by the sheriff’s department on suspicion of assault on a peace officer with a firearm, attempted murder and committing a felony while on bail or release.
The sheriff’s homicide unit will conduct an investigation of the death.
The Citizen’s Law Enforcement Review Board was also notified of the death.
Custody deaths have been an issue in San Diego County in recent years. A 2019 report by the San Diego Union-Tribune found that San Diego County’s rate of inmate death was higher than that of other large counties in California.
A state audit in 2022 found that officials had not adequately prevented or responded to deaths in custody. The county had 19 custody deaths that year, and has already surpassed 10 custody deaths this year.
–City News Service