A 24-year-old woman being held in the Lake County Jail for allegedly causing severe traumatic injuries to a baby died after she was found unresponsive in her cell Friday.
A Lake County correctional officer was conducting routine rounds in the jail’s medical pod around 2:30 p.m. Friday.
The correctional officer observed a 24-year-old female inmate, of Grand Prairie, Texas, on the bed of the cell with her eyes closed, according to Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chief.
The officer noticed the woman’s chest was not rising and immediately opened the cell’s door.
The inmate was determined to be unresponsive and did not have a pulse.
The corrections officer initiated a medical emergency response and called for an ambulance.
Correctional officers performed CPR and used an Automated External Defibrillator on the inmate until paramedics arrived.
The woman was transported to Vista Medical Center East in Waukegan where she was pronounced dead.
Court records show the woman had been in custody since July 1 on charges of aggravated battery to a child, reckless conduct causing great bodily harm, child endangerment and two counts of domestic battery.
Prosecutors said at a bond hearing in early July that the woman struck an infant girl in the face and allowed her to fall off a counter at a Winthrop Harbor home.
The infant was hospitalized with severe trauma.
The woman was recently found unfit to stand trial and the jail was waiting for space to become available at the Illinois Department of Human Services so she could be transferred for fitness restoration treatment, Covelli said.
While awaiting transport, the woman was assigned to a single-inmate cell pod.
The inmate’s cell door was closed and there were no other inmates in the vicinity, Covelli said.
Rounds were conducted at least 30 minutes prior to the incident and the woman, who has underlying health conditions, appeared “okay” at the time.
Covelli said there did not appear to be any suspicious marks or injuries on the woman’s body.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office requested the assistance of the Lake County Major Crime Task Force to conduct an independent investigation.
An autopsy will be conducted by the Lake County Coroner’s Office on Monday.