An 18-year-old inmate at the Greene County Detention Center died Tuesday after experiencing a medical emergency, officials confirmed.
The inmate, identified as Atiyana Willis of Forrest City, was pronounced dead on Sept. 22 at 12:01 p.m. at the Baptist Paragould emergency room, according to Greene County Sheriff Brad Snyder.
In a statement released Wednesday, Snyder said detention personnel and on-site medical staff performed CPR until fire and EMS crews arrived to take over. Despite these efforts, Willis was later pronounced deceased.
As is standard procedure, Willis’ body will be taken to the Arkansas State Crime Lab, where an autopsy will determine the manner and cause of her death, according to Nick Genty, deputy communications director for Arkansas State Police.
The sheriff’s office has asked Arkansas State Police to conduct an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding Willis’ death. Sheriff Snyder stated that all inquiries would be directed to the agency's headquarters in Little Rock.
Court records show Willis had been in custody since Sept. 8 after being arrested for failing to appear in court on a theft by receiving-firearm charge. Initially, Willis was taken into custody by Arkansas State Police on July 10 during an investigation into a hit-and-run in Jonesboro, where the theft charge originated.
Records further reveal that later in July, the Jonesboro Police Department petitioned for Willis to be involuntarily committed as a "mentally ill person." A judicial order approving the 45-day involuntary commitment was signed on July 30.
The investigation into Willis’ death is ongoing.