At 9:40 p.m. on October 20, 2005, during a routine cell check, a Jefferson County Sheriff's deputy discovered an unresponsive female lying on the floor in her assigned cell with a pair of socks wrapped around her neck.  Deputies immediately removed the tourniquet and began performing CPR.  Sheriff's deputies and medical staff continued CPR until the ambulance service arrived and took over resuscitation efforts.  The inmate was transported to Saint Anthony's Central Hospital where she died on Sunday, October 23, 2005. 

The inmate's name is not being released pending notification of family.  The inmate had been in the custody of the Sheriff's Office since June 24, 2005, on a U.S. Marshall hold after being indicted for attempting to damage and destroy, by means of fire and explosive, a vehicle and other property owned and possessed by the United States; and threatening to assault and murder federal law enforcement officers.

Although the investigation is still ongoing, all indications are that the inmate committed suicide while alone in her cell.  The Jefferson County Coroner's Office will determine the exact cause of death at the completion of their investigation.