The family of a Mississippi woman said they suspect foul play after their loved one died while in custody at the Madison County Detention Center.
Lanekia Michelle Brown, 37, was in jail awaiting trial after being charged with trafficking marijuana when her family received the devastating news. According to WJTV, a Mississippi Highway Patrol Officer called on Dec. 23 to ask for the family’s home address, which was followed by a visit from a state trooper.
Lanekia Brown, 37, was found unresponsive after complaining of stomach pains, authorities said. (Image courtesy of Facebook)
Brown’s mother, Margaret Johnson, said the trooper informed her her daughter was found unresponsive that day after complaining of stomach pains. By the time a nurse had arrived, it was too late.
“They did CPR on her over and over,” Johnson recalled the trooper telling her. “[They] still didn’t get no response … so he just said she was gone.”
Johnson said her daughter, who had been in custody since Nov. 26, didn’t suffer any health issues, but was three to four weeks pregnant.
Desperate for answers, Johnson and her family drove to Madison County from Grenada, Miss., to question authorities and collect their loved one’s belongings. Johnson said they were turned away, however, and asked to return Dec. 26 for more information on Brown’s death. What’s worse, Johnson said they weren’t able to identify the body.
“I need to know what happened to her, where she at,” she said. “They won’t tell me or give me no information. That’s my child. I love my child. I want to know where my child is.”
The Madison County Sheriff’s Department confirmed Brown’s death to WJTV, adding that the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation has since taken over the case. An autopsy is also being performed by the Madison County coroner’s office.
Relatives told the station the circumstances surrounding Brown’s death seemed “suspicious” and that they suspect foul play was involved.
“It’s very suspicious,” a family member identified by WJTV as Lavell said. “Because, like I said, we talked to her and she was OK. If she had any kind of problems, she would have let us know.”
Brown is survived by her two children.
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