MECKLENBURG COUNTY, N.C. — An investigation is underway after a 31-year-old woman died Wednesday evening while in custody of the Mecklenburg County Detention Center, according to the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office.
The woman was found unresponsive around 6:20 p.m. in her cell in the detention center infirmary, located on East Fourth Street in Charlotte. Medical personnel began administering CPR and a nurse called 9-1-1.
Around 6:36 p.m., Charlotte Fire Department arrived followed by MEDIC and continued CPR, connected an IV and administered an automatic external defibrillator, according to the sheriff’s office.
The woman, identified as Francine Laney, was pronounced dead at 7:05 p.m. by officials.
“Words can not express the devastation of losing a resident so soon after the shooting involving one of our deputes and now the emotional trauma on staff. We are deeply saddened to report this death,” Sheriff Garry McFadden said.
According to a news release, Laney was processed into custody at the Mecklenburg County Detenton Center-Central on January 30, 2022. She made no phone calls and received no legal or professional visits since that date.
The State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) will conduct a thorough investigation as the medical examiner determines a cause of death.
