JENNINGS CO. – Jennings County Prosecutor Brian Belding is releasing his findings following the review of an investigation by Detectives with the Indiana State Police-Versailles Post into the death of Sandra Ray, who was an inmate housed in the Jennings County Jail.
Ray was arrested on a charge of operating a vehicle while intoxicated on May 24, 2022 at approximately 4:21 p.m, by a Deputy with the Jennings County Sheriff Office and transported to the Jenning County Jail.
Her blood alcohol level at the time of her arrest was 0.267 percent. Once at the jail Ray submitted to a certified breath test at approximately 5:77 p.m. The certified breath test showed a result of .233 gl2l0 L. (alcohol readings are expressed as grams of alcohol per 210 liters of breath).
According to the jail staff that booked her into the jail, the book-in process was normal, and staff noted that they would not have known Ray was intoxicated from her demeanor and that Ray did not exhibit any signs of being impaired.
A jailer did the medical intake assessment with Ray at 6:13 p.m. wherein it was indicated that she appeared to be under the influence of alcohol. The assessment also indicated that Ray abused alcohol daily by drinking a fifth of alcohol a day and will experience withdraw.
Ray was placed in cell number 210 in the book-in area. The cell is directly across frorn the jail desk in the book-in area. She remained in cell number 210 during the entire duration of incarceration.
That jail officers checked on Ray and noted on the alcohol withdraw and assessment/watch report the following dates and times:
- May 24,2022, at 6:56 p.m.;
- May 25,2022, at I a.m. and
- May 26,2022, at 1:30 a.m.
A jailer entered cell 210 on May 26, 2022, at 7:37 a.m. and found that Ray as non-response and radioed for medical help and started CPR. EMS arrived at cell 210 at 7:45 a.m. and administered advanced life support. That was ceased at 7:52 a.m. and the Jennings County Coroner’s office was contacted.
The State Police investigator watched the entirety of the video surveillance and did not observe any act or omission by anyone that interacted with Ray while she was in the custody of the Jennings County Jail that would constitute a crime.
Furthermore, the Indiana State Police investigator interviewed all jail personnel that came into contact with Ray while she was in the custody of the Jennings County Jail. Based on those interviews, there was no additional evidence that any person intentionally, knowingly, recklessly committed an act or omission that would constitute a crime.
The Indiana State Police investigation did not recover any evidence that Ray was a victim of homicide. There was no evidence that Ray was intentionally or knowingly killed by another person nor was there evidence of a reckless act.
That the Jennings County Prosecutor watched the video surveillance of Ray during the time she was in the custody of the Jennings County Jail and agrees with the Indiana State Police investigator that no evidence was discovered or observed that would constitute a crime.
