The Darke County Sheriff’s Office and coroner’s office are investigating the death of an inmate while incarcerated in the Darke County Jail, according to a release.
On Wednesday, a corrections officer discovered Thomas Rochow, 50, of Greenville, not breathing on his bed, the release stated.
“Corrections officers and deputies performed CPR including the application of an AED in an attempt to revive Rochow,” according to the release. “Greenville Township Rescue Paramedics also responded and provided advanced life support care. Rochow was not resuscitated and was pronounced dead in the jail.”
Detectives from the Darke County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the case.
Rochow was arrested by the Greenville Police Department on Monday afternoon for an outstanding warrant out of Darke County Common Pleas Court on felony theft charges, according to the release. He was booked into the Darke County Jail that day at 2:42 p.m.
Rochow was placed in general population at the Darke County Jail, where single occupancy cells are used; Rochow had no other inmates in his cell.
Wednesday morning at 6:30 a.m., Rochow was awakened, along with all other inmates in his ward. Rochow exited his cell and asked a corrections officer that he remain in his cell instead of doing morning cleaning duties because he was not feeling well.
Rochow’s request was granted and he immediately returned to his cell. The door was secured at approximately 6:32 a.m. At 7:10 a.m., a corrections officers opened Rochow’s cell door and he was called out for breakfast but he did not respond.
The corrections officer checked Rochow and discovered him lying on his bed. The corrections officer tried to get Rochow to respond and discovered he was in cardiac arrest.
The preliminary investigation finds that Rochow did not appear to have any traumatic injury. There is no evidence or information that he was involved in any assault. He was cooperative while in the jail and no physical use of force was utilized while in the jail.
Rochow’s cause of death is pending lab results and toxicology that could take several weeks, the sheriff’s office said.
Download our free mobile apps for breaking news and weather on your smartphone
