The coroner has released the identity of a McHenry man who died after he was found unresponsive in his cell Tuesday while being held in the McHenry County Jail.
A corrections officer was conducting routine cell checks around 6:50 a.m. Tuesday at the McHenry County Adult Correctional Facility, 2200 North Seminary Avenue in Woodstock.
The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office said the officer found an inmate unresponsive in a single-occupied cell.
The inmate, a 51-year-old man, was not conscious and not breathing.
Corrections officers began attempting lifesaving measures and called the Woodstock Fire/Rescue District.
Paramedics took over lifesaving measures, which were unsuccessful, the sheriff’s office said.
The man was pronounced dead at the scene and the McHenry County Major Investigation Assistance Team (MIAT) was requested.
The request for MIAT to conduct the investigation is in accordance with the sheriff’s office protocol and state law, officials said.
McHenry County Coroner Dr. Michael Rein said Wednesday that the inmate was identified as Sean Grendel, 51, of McHenry.
The coroner’s office was expected to perform an autopsy on Grendel Wednesday afternoon.
Rein said all preliminary findings and toxicology will be considered pending and under investigation following the autopsy.
The sheriff’s office did not say if any signs of trauma were found or if foul play is suspected.
Court records show Grendel had three active criminal cases in McHenry County.
The charges included violent offender of youth false registration information, fleeing attempting to elude an officer, two counts of driving on a revoked license, resisting a peace officer, expired registration, revoked or suspended registration, failure to yield to an emergency vehicle, improper passing on left, speeding, disregarding a stop sign, failure to use signal and operating an uninsured motor vehicle.
Grendel had appeared in court on Saturday and a judge ordered pre-trial release conditions because the charges are non-detainable under the SAFE-T Act.
It is unclear if Grendel had an active warrant outside of McHenry County that kept him in the jail after his Saturday hearing.