No Charges in Natasha McKenna's Death: 'A Tragic Accident,' Says Commonwealth's Attorney

An investigation released today, into the in-custody death of Natasha McKenna, a mentally ill Alexandria woman, says no one is responsible for her death and that it “was a tragic accident.”

McKenna had a long history of mental illness and after being picked up on a warrant sat in a Fairfax County jail for days; when officers tried to extract her, a Taser was used several times because she was not cooperative, police said. 

The investigation into McKenna’s death was made by the Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney in Fairfax County and absolves anyone from any responsibility.

“Ms. McKenna’s death was a tragic accident. It is my legal opinion that there is not probable cause, much less proof beyond a reasonable doubt, that anyone involved in this case committed a crime.”

Raymond F. Morrogh, Commonwealth’s Attorney

The report says that her death was caused by “excited delirium, sudden cardiac death.”

The report goes into minute detail of the days leading up to her incarceration and attempted extraction from her cell in the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center. A charge by Alexandria Police landed her in the jail and she was supposed to be moved to Alexandria, but sat at Fairfax County for days. Fairfax earlier said they couldn’t get her mental help, that it would be up to Alexandria. That is not addressed in the report.

On several occasions, McKenna fought police at every turn and during attempts to help her at area hospitals including Alexandria Inova and Mount Vernon Inova. The report shows different attempts by doctors and police officers attempting to help McKenna to no avail.

What the report fails to say is why McKenna was held for so long, more than a week, at the Fairfax County jail and why she was not given medical care for her mental illness at that time or sent for a longer stay at a psychiatric hospital.