Crime & Safety

Authorities Probe Inmate Death At Essex County Prison In Newark

Authorities are investigating the death of an inmate at the Essex County Correctional Facility. The cause is "undetermined," officials said.

NEWARK, NJ — Authorities are investigating the death of an inmate at the Essex County Correctional Facility in Newark. The 48-year-old man passed away Wednesday afternoon, county officials said.

The inmate – whose name was not released – entered the prison in July 2019. He was placed in the facility’s infirmary on April 4, after complaining of “symptoms consistent with a urinary infection,” Essex County officials said.

Authorities stated:

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“[The inmate] was treated on-site by medical staff and remained under observation. Ambulance/EMT services were called at 11:45 a.m. when his condition deteriorated. In the interim, a medical response team from within the ECCF was activated and they provided medical first aid until 12:46 p.m. when the inmate was pronounced dead by the medical director at the ECCF. The Essex County medical examiner has been contacted and will investigate further.”

The cause of death is undetermined as of Wednesday evening, authorities said.

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