Newfoundland RCMP say female inmate may have choked to death on food

CLARENVILLE, N.L. – Police in Newfoundland say they’re waiting on autopsy results but it appears a female inmate who collapsed alone in a jail cell choked on food.

RCMP Staff Sgt. Larry Turner says officers were called around 3:30 p.m. Friday to the Correctional Centre for Women in Clarenville.

He says foul play isn’t suspected at this time in the death of a 27-year-old inmate, whose name has not been officially released.

Turner says the woman was served a meal for lunch and it appears her windpipe was obstructed.

A Justice spokeswoman says the death is under investigation and would not confirm whether the inmate was in segregation or under special watch.

Turner says the inmate died at a local hospital around 3:30 a.m. on Saturday.

Results of an autopsy won’t likely be released before the end of the week.