Follow Us on Twitter Join Us on Facebook
Another inmate kills self in county detention center
by Theresa Armstrong Reporter
18 months ago | 2820 views | 11 11 comments | 17 17 recommendations | email to a friend | print
For the second time in less than a year an inmate at the Grayson County Detention Center has committed suicide.

On Saturday morning, February 7, the Grayson County Coroner was dispatched to the detention center to investigate the death of Angela Downs, 23, of Pleasant Run Road, Falls of Rough.

According to a report by Grayson County Sheriff’s Detective Terry Blanton, Downs had been arrested on Friday afternoon along with Robert K. Burden,37, also of Pleasant Run Road, after being stopped for a traffic violation.

An investigation led to the K-9 Unit from the Grayson County Detention Center being called to the scene and the two occupants of the vehicle being placed under arrest and taken to the detention center.

Downs was charged with unlawful possession of methamphetamine precursor, first and drug paraphernalia first offense.

Burden was charged with trafficking a controlled substance first degree, possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana and use and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Downs, was undergoing medical treatment at the detention center and was found Saturday after she hanged herself with the IV tubing that was being used to treat her.

“We found no foul play,” said the Grayson County Coroner Joe Brad Hudson. “She was on a medical watch when she was found.”

The family of Downs has questions that are unanswered and are unsure where to turn for those answers.

“We just have questions we want answers to and can not get them answered,” said Down’s father Mike Downs.

When asked for a statement about the incident Grayson County Jailer referred the News-Gazette to the state police for a report of the death.

Nine months earlier on May 1, 2008, a Tennessee man was found dead in the bathroom of the detention center.

According to a report from the detention center, at approximately 7:45 a.m., an inmate at the center notified deputies that he had discovered the body of Tomie Eugene Payne, age 61, of Columbia, Tennessee, in the bathroom of cell 312 in the main facility on Shaw's Station Road.

Jail officials entered the shower area of the restroom and found Payne hanging by the neck from a string connected to an air vent, reported Kentucky State Trooper Davy Norris.

Share This Article |
similar stories

Inmate hangs self in county lockup|Officials suspect no foul play; view death as apparent suicide | 2 years ago

Above: After two inmates escaped custody at the State Annex of the Grayson County Detention Center | 8 years ago

Detention Center receives "excellent" rating from state inspector | 8 years ago

More than just a jail | 7 years ago

Detention center inmate takes a walk | 7 years ago

comments (11)
« dylanandtresnana wrote on Friday, Jun 26 at 04:45 PM »
I have known Rose and her daughters for a long time. I now live inLouisvuille and work for a personal injury attorney. I told him about this and he would love to take this case. He has made jefferson county pay several times for their misdeeds and GC thinks they are above the law anyway
« Haldol wrote on Sunday, Mar 22 at 07:56 AM »
I was locked up in the Grayson county detention center in July 2008, the medical staff put me on "Haldol" without telling me what it was, and made up reports saying I was "suicidal", and even put me on a suicide watch. During the suicide watch, I was held in a room across from booking, with hand picked inmates watching me day and night, these inmates were threatening my life and my families life for some reason. The male doctor their even walked into the back room when i was getting some bandages changed and said "because of you, im going to lose my job and have to sell shoes the rest of my life". Maybe the FBI or someone will finally investigate the detention center after this second suicide. Something was obviously rotten at this place when I was their.
« nurse1990 wrote on Sunday, Mar 01 at 05:03 PM »
I grew up in Grayson County. I have family there. I feel the subject of suicide is enough to make people wonder what is happening to people that life is so hard for them to deal with and suicide is the answer. This girl had something going on in her life. Who knows what people are thinking in their heart of hearts. Pointing fingers for fault to be placed on the people who are protecting our county at the detension center is not the answer. The answer is to look at what can be done to prevent suicide. I understand recently there has been multiple suicides in the Grayson Co area. Each of those suicides were linked to meth drugs. The answer is the solution. Why would an intelligent person choose to put poison in there body to alter their brains that is made by people who have no concept of the chemicals they are mixing up to be sold to chemically dependent people. This is an illness that has made our society sick and they have no controll over their minds and bodies. It is very sad. Walk in the shoes of the men and women who work to help to protect us and our children. It is very sad that this family lost Angela. Their grief is two fold and they will never get peace due to the what happened to their daughter. If you have a chemically dependent family member get help for them. Dont let them continue the path they are on! There is hospitals that can help them recover. It is up to you to help your close family members. You do not want to be where Angela's family is now. Chemical Dependency is a deadly disease.
« punkchickadee wrote on Wednesday, Feb 18 at 08:27 PM »
I know someone that just recently got out of the grayson co jail and said that when an inmate is at the detention center that in fact other inmates are taken out of their cells and sent to sit and "watch" or keep an eye on other inmates that are on "suicide" watch or drugged out.. How can you trust a jail that lets other inmates watch other inmates? sound like we need to hire some more gaurds if this is true? and it doesnt take long for someone to committ suicide..
« punkchickadee wrote on Wednesday, Feb 18 at 02:23 PM »
I knew angela for a long time..

she was a sincere person, and she was a good person...This should not have been allowed to happen... and this county needs to fix their issues not only in the jail, but also in the court system...I hope that people around here understand the pain that her family is going through. I miss u angela.. RIP...
« ProudNanna wrote on Wednesday, Feb 18 at 01:45 PM »
Sounds to me like "a_kycat" is also "a_jailemployee" or relative of....hmmmmmm...

A person who is classified as an addict when incarcerated should automatically be added to "suicide watch" since the withdrawal process as described in medical journals is as such:

Meth Withdrawal symptoms included but are not limited to:

* fatigue

* long, disturbed periods of sleep

* irritability

* intense hunger

* moderate to severe depression

* psychotic reactions

* anxiety

Narcotic withdrawal, length and severity of depression is related to how much and how often narcotic was used. Withdrawal symptoms including, cravings, exhaustion, depression, mental confusion, restlessness, insomnia, deep or disturbed sleep, may last up to 48 hours.

So my dear "a_kycat"... maybe 15-20 minutes is too long... since it is also documented that hanging only takes 3-5 minutes to cause death.
« a_kycat wrote on Monday, Feb 16 at 10:48 AM »
the only thing i have to say is that if they didn't do a crime they wouldn't be there and i know personally that they check them every 15 to 20 min on med watch and if there were less criminals to watch this may not happen i have great confidence in this jail
« babyblue_200277 wrote on Thursday, Feb 12 at 02:50 PM »
I am sorry to hear about the death of Angela she was a great person to be around and was always smiling when I seen her.If someone had of been doing their job this never would have happened.R.I.P. Angela you will be sadly missed and loved
« ProudNanna wrote on Thursday, Feb 12 at 11:54 AM »
If Angela was on "medical watch" as stated by the Coroner, why was she NOT being watched for the period of time to do this to herself? An investigation of the entire process needs to be done by an OUTSIDE source other than the GC and/or KY authorities.
« maybe wrote on Wednesday, Feb 11 at 10:47 PM »
another case of grayson counties finest sitting on their behind and not doing their job
« sweetmommy0507 wrote on Wednesday, Feb 11 at 07:03 PM »
this is really sad. angela was a great person. sounds to me like someone was not doing their job. rip angela.. you will be deeply missed
report abuse...

Express yourself:
The comments posted are not the views of the News-Gazette and are only the opinions of the user. We're glad to give you a forum to air your point of view on issues important to this community. We just ask that you keep things civil. Leave out the personal attacks. Do not use offensive language, ethnic or racial slurs, or assail anyone's personal or religious beliefs. For anyone who can't be civil, we reserve the right to remove your material. We also reserve the right to ban users who violate our visitor's agreement.
Weather
Sponsored By:

Lottery
Sponsored By:

Stocks
Sponsored By:

featured businesses
Gasoline Prices
Sponsored By:

Recipes
Sponsored By: