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Local News

October 10, 2008

OSBI investigating death at county jail

Karen Brady

A federal prisoner being held at the Grady County Jail was found dead in his cell at about 6:30 a.m. on Wednesday

The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation is handling the investigation.

According to OSBI spokeswoman Jessica Brown, William West, who was being held for obtaining child pornography, was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital in Chickasha where he was pronounced dead on arrival. She did not release a hometown for West.

District Attorney Bret Burns said Thursday his office was waiting for a report from the OSBI on the death.

Unconfirmed reports indicated West apparently committed suicide by placing a commissary bag over his head and wrapping a sheet around his neck.

“It appears to be a suicide,” said Brown. “We were called to investigate as a matter of routine, but there are no indications to believe otherwise.”

Grady County Jail Administrator Shane Wyatt refused to comment saying the case was under investigation.

A spokesman for the U.S. Marshal’s office, which handles booking federal prisoners into county jails, could not be reached for comment Thursday afternoon.

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