Officials are investigating the death of a 42-year-old woman who died in a New York jail cell Monday afternoon.
Rayette Turner, who was a mother of eight, died in a holding cell in Mount Vernon, New York. She was allegedly arrested for shoplifting at a wholesale food store.
CBS New York reports that Turner was accused of stealing a small item from the store. Osvaldo Gonzalez, who is representing Turner’s family, told her husband that she would likely be released without bail.
This was the third time Turner was arrested for shoplifting in three weeks, city officials say.
Turner told officials that she wasn’t feeling well on Sunday evening, and was taken by ambulance to the hospital. She returned to her cell a few hours later after being treated for hypertension.
She was found dead the next day.
New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman sent investigators from his team to begin a preliminary inquiry.
Whether or not a full investigation will be launched is not yet clear. An autopsy is still pending.
Check back for updates.
