(Correction: Chelsey Davis was 38. A previous version of this story included the wrong age.)
A woman’s death at the Broome County Correctional Facility is under investigation.
On Oct. 8, Chelsey M. Davis, 38, of Port Dickinson, died six hours after being remanded to the custody of the correctional facility. Her exact cause of death has not yet been determined.
Broome County Sheriff Fred Akshar said at an Oct. 9 press conference that Davis was taken to the jail from the Town of Chenango at about 2:14 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 8, after being charged with criminal contempt.
At the jail, Davis underwent the standard booking process and medical screening at about 2:33 p.m., Akshar said. The process includes a body scan, search and various screenings for medical needs, substance abuse and mental health issues.
According to the sheriff’s office, initial screenings and determinations are based on the person’s answers to questions regarding their medical history and conditions, as well as the results of medical examinations and observations made by medical staff. If a person in custody shows signs of “active withdrawal,” the person is immediately sent to a hospital.
Based on the first screening, Akshar said Davis was transferred to a medical unit of the facility at about 3:37 p.m. for “further observations.” Akshar said he was not able to say what medical issues were initially determined by medical staff.
“It’s better that we gather all of those facts and present them when the investigation is finalized,” he said.
At about 7:48 p.m., Davis received a second medical evaluation as part of standard procedure in the facility. Akshar said she did not show signs of “discomfort, distress or any notable issues” at the time.
Between 8:45 p.m. and 9 p.m., a third evaluation was conducted based on a request from corrections staff and because of her “behavior and communication.” At this time, Akshar said there were again “no issues that were presented” by Davis.
About 20 minutes later, staff witnessed Davis experiencing a “medical emergency” — Akshar did not specify what kind of medical emergency — and responded with other members of the facility along with medical staff to attempt life-saving measures, including CPR and utilizing an AED.
Superior Ambulance was called and arrived by 9:44 p.m. to assist. By about 10:12 p.m., life-saving measures ceased and Davis was pronounced dead at the scene.
Akshar said members of the sheriff’s office and the correctional staff are “deeply saddened” by Davis’ death and wish to extend condolences to her family.
“We certainly wished that this day would’ve never come in this administration, but the reality is it has, and it’s important that I be as open and transparent with the community as I possibly can be,” he said. “Today is the first step in doing that.”
An autopsy was conducted in the afternoon of Oct. 9, and around 3:15 p.m., Akshar said it was “very close” to being concluded. The autopsy and toxicology results have not yet been released to the sheriff’s office, and could take “upwards of a couple of months to get,” according to Akshar.
The Broome County Correctional Facility is conducting a full investigation into the death and said it is”fully cooperating” with the New York State Attorney General’s Office and the New York State Commission on Corrections on a full review of the incident.
This article originally appeared on Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin: Port Dickinson woman, 38, dead following ‘medical emergency’ at Broome County jail
Reporting by Jillian McCarthy, Binghamton Press & Sun Bulletin / Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin
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