A 36-year-old Oakland woman died Thursday, Oct. 22, nine days after deputies found her unresponsive in her cell at Santa Rita Jail in Dublin, the Alameda County Sheriff's Office said.
Why it matters: Deaths connected to Santa Rita custody are closely watched. Under state law, the Sheriff's Office has to report them to the state and post details publicly.
What happened
Jessica Watson was booked into Santa Rita on Oct. 10 on suspicion of domestic violence and driving under the influence, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.
During a welfare check on Oct. 13 at about 8:36 p.m., deputies found her unresponsive in her cell. She still had a pulse. Deputies and jail medical staff tried lifesaving measures and took her to a hospital.
She was released on her own recognizance the next day, while still in the hospital, and her criminal case was dismissed. She died at the hospital Thursday.
What's next
An official cause of death is pending autopsy and toxicology results. The Sheriff's Office notified the Alameda County District Attorney's Office and the California Attorney General's Office, according to the Chronicle and Hoodline.
Context
Hoodline noted earlier in-custody deaths at Santa Rita this year, including deaths in February, March and June that SFist reported.
Sources: San Francisco Chronicle; Hoodline; SFGATE.