Inmate Found Dead in Cell at Erie County Holding Center

Get our free mobile app

Another inmate has died from "unknown" causes at the Erie County Holding Center.  According to WKBW, the incident happened early Saturday, March 13, 2021.  The Sheriff's Office claims that the inmate was found in his bed in his cell.  A medical team reportedly tried to revive the unresponsive man and according to WKBW,

“deployed an automatic defibrillator, but the device did not advise a shock.”

After the efforts to revive him were unsuccessful, he was pronounced dead. This is the 32nd death at the Erie County Holding center since 2005.  That's an average of 2 deaths per year since Sheriff Tim Howard was elected.  There has been no cause of death reported to the media for the man who died on Saturday morning.  Channel 7's I-Team reported that there have been over 400 serious incidents at the holding center in 2019, according to the State Commission of Correction.

Hopefully, with Sheriff Tim Howard not seeking re-election, the new leadership can stop these deaths from happening.  For the holding center to have 32 deaths since 2005, it seems like there is something else, possibly nefarious, going on.

India Cummings' Family Still Doesn't Have Answers

One of the more prominent deaths at the Erie County Holding Center is that of India Cummings. India died while in custody at the Erie County Holding Center in February 2016. India was taken to ECH after police alleged she was acting irrationally after using synthetic marijuana. She allegedly stole a police car and lead the police on a brief chase before being arrested. According to WGRZ, her family believes she suffered "a medical breakdown." The County Health Department issued a report saying she died from undetermined causes. The family's attorney said India suffered from horrible injuries, including,

"a broken arm, broken ribs, severe dehydration, a blood clot in her leg that would have required the amputation of her leg, and her kidneys were failing. She was brain dead and in cardiac arrest."

In October 2020, New York Attorney General Letitia James announced that there wouldn't be any charges filed in India's death.