Inmate dies after medical emergency at Fairfax Co. facility

WASHINGTON — A 53-year-old inmate at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center died Thursday after suffering from a medical emergency in her cell last week.

On Aug. 31 around 7 p.m., a female inmate became ill at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center. A Fairfax County Sheriff’s deputy called medical staff, who transported the woman to Fairfax Hospital.

The woman died around 11 a.m. Thursday.

The inmate’s identity is being withheld until “appropriate notifications” have been made, according to the Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office.

Fairfax County police are investigating the death, as is customary with all in-custody deaths in the county.

Officials have not released any additional details about the woman’s death, including the nature of her medical emergency.

Sarah Beth Hensley

Sarah Beth Hensley is the Digital News Director at WTOP. She has worked several different roles since she began with WTOP in 2013 and has contributed to award-winning stories and coverage on the website.

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