Inmate D’Koleman Harris Dies in an Alabama County Jail
In Alabama news out of Bessemer published on November 10, 2025, an inmate was found dead in Jefferson County Jail, according to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.
A custodial death at the Jefferson County Jail in Bessemer is now the subject of an official investigation after a 24-year-old detainee, identified as D’Koleman Juvan Harris, was discovered unresponsive in his two-person cell. According to the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office, D’Koleman Harris was found at approximately 8:15 a.m. and was pronounced deceased at the jail a few minutes later, at 8:22 a.m. on November 9, 2025.
At this time, officials have not yet determined the cause or manner of death. The Chief Deputy Coroner confirmed that a full autopsy has been scheduled to identify what led to Mr. Harris’s passing. The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office is currently overseeing the investigation.
In-custody deaths where the medical cause remains unknown often raise critical questions about inmate medical monitoring, response times, and overall conditions of confinement. Determining whether a death resulted from natural causes, untreated medical issues, substance-related complications, or other factors typically requires thorough medical and legal review.
The address of the Jefferson County Jail – Bessemer Division is 1822 2nd Ave N, Bessemer, Alabama 35020. The jail has an 85-inmate capacity.
Andrey Biruk Dies of Peritonitis in Washington’s Snohomish County Jail
On September 11, 2023, Andrey Biruk, 42, died of peritonitis on his fourth day of incarceration in Snohomish County Jail.
Deputies booked Mr. Biruk into jail on September 8, 2023. Corrections staff placed Mr. Biruk in the medical detox unit, according to the inquiry.
Three days later, a corrections deputy noticed Mr. Biruk acting oddly in his cell. Around 3:36 a.m., he tested positive for methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine. The cocaine was not initially present in Mr. Biruk’s urinary analysis, according to the documents.
Corrections staff moved Mr. Biruk to an observation cell, a room designed to hold one person with a corrections deputy observing at all times, according to the sheriff’s office. Around 9:20 p.m., staff found Mr. Biruk unresponsive. Medical staff and firefighters tried life-saving measures for 33 minutes before pronouncing Mr. Biruk dead at 9:57 p.m.
Mr. Biruk died of peritonitis, or inflammation of the stomach lining, according to the medical examiner. The ailment is often caused by a burst appendix and can also lead to sepsis. The review recommended cameras inside and outside cells in the observation unit.
The address of Snohomish County Jail is 3025 Oakes Ave, Everett, Washington 98201.
Richard Lambert Dies of Sepsis in Washington’s Grant County Jail
An investigation into the New Year’s Eve death of a 31-year-old man held at the Grant County Jail has identified sepsis caused by peritonitis as the medical cause of death, according to findings released by the Grant County Coroner’s Office. The decedent, identified as Richard Lambert, died while in custody on December 31, 2024.
Authorities report that Mr. Lambert’s peritonitis—and resulting sepsis—stemmed from injuries sustained in a bicycle accident that occurred several days before he was arrested. The coroner ruled the death accidental and medically connected to trauma from the crash, rather than events occurring during his arrest or incarceration.
The Central Basin Investigative Team (CBIT), which is overseeing the investigation, conducted multiple witness interviews and confirmed the bicycle incident took place two days prior to Mr. Lambert’s booking, with injuries consistent with the condition that led to his death.
Peritonitis is a serious inflammation of the abdominal lining that can cause intestinal leakage. When untreated, it can rapidly develop into sepsis, a life-threatening systemic infection.
Although the cause of Mr. Lambert’s death was medically determined, the custodial death investigation remains active. Two corrections deputies were previously placed on paid administrative leave as part of the review—a standard step in many in-custody death inquiries.
The address of Grant County Jail is 35 C St NW, Ephrata, Washington 98823.
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