The La Plata County Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday reported the death of a jail inmate, who apparently suffered “self-inflicted trauma.”
The inmate was booked into the La Plata County Jail on Friday on suspicion of being a fugitive of justice from Texas, said Chris Burke, spokesman for the Sheriff’s Office.
At 11:16 a.m. Friday, jail deputies conducted life-saving measures, and the man was taken alive to Mercy Regional Medical Center, according to a news release issued Wednesday by the Sheriff’s Office.
The man died Monday, according to the release.
La Plata County Coroner Jann Smith identified the inmate as Kelly Russell.
Smith said Russell was an organ donor, and his body was taken to Denver, where some of his organs were removed. An autopsy is expected to occur sometime next week.
The Durango Police Department will investigate the death. Efforts to reach a police department spokesman were not immediately successful Wednesday.
This is a developing story. Check www.durangoherald.com for updates.