Inmate Patricia Michaelis Dies in Laramie County Jail After Booking

In news from Cheyenne, Wyoming, 47-year-old Patricia Kay Michaelis was arrested on Saturday by the Cheyenne Police Department on charges of shoplifting. Police officers then took Ms. Michaelis to the Laramie County Detention Center at about 9:20 p.m. on August 23, 2025, according to a news release from the Laramie County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO).

Ms. Michaelis would not answer questions during the intake process, according to the news release, but she cooperated as far as following simple directions that the jail staff gave her. A health assessment was conducted by medical staff. Ms. Michaelis gave no indication that she needed to be medically cleared at a hospital before getting her ultimately settled in the regular housing area. After being searched, she was housed in a temporary holding cell in the booking area.

During routine cell checks later on, jail staff found that Ms. Michaelis was unresponsive. Jail and staff from the medical unit immediately provided cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and other aid in attempts to resuscitate Ms. Michaelis. Cheyenne Fire and Rescue arrived but found that Ms. Michaelis was not responding to lifesaving measures. Patricia Michaelis was pronounced deceased at 11:15 p.m. on August 23, 2025. Her cause of death is currently unknown.

At the request of LCSO, an independent investigation of Ms. Michaelis’ death will be conducted by the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation. When the investigation is complete, the findings will be passed on to the Laramie County Sheriff. The LCSO will then provide additional information. The investigation is ongoing.

The address of Laramie County Jail, also known as Laramie County Detention Center, is 1910 Pioneer Ave, Cheyenne, Wyoming 82001.

Wyoming County Jails Have the Fourth Highest Inmate Suicide Rate in the Nation

Of the 50 U.S. states, Wyoming has the lowest population, yet its county jails are among the deadliest for suicide. Wyoming’s suicide rate is the fourth highest in the nation, according to a featured story published on October 4, 2023. The article goes into detail about the life and tragic death of Hunter Johnson, as told partly by his father. A summary of his story follows:

Hunter was 19 years old and had mental challenges, including depression, when he was booked into Laramie County Detention Center on December 19, 2015. During the booking process, Hunter told deputies that he was suicidal. Suicide watch was, therefore, required for Hunter. He had to be checked every 15 minutes. On December 21, only two days later, he was removed from suicide watch and placed on medical watch to monitor him for signs of alcohol withdrawal.

Hunter was taken to his first appearance before a judge. Afterward, he wandered off and, back in jail, was placed in disciplinary isolation for the act. He denied being suicidal. Less than an hour later, Hunter committed suicide, court documents show. Hunter Johnson died on December 26, 2015.

Between 2012 and 2022, there were 22 custodial suicides in Wyoming’s county jails, and Hunter is one of them. Wyoming has a notoriously high suicide rate among the general public, but when it comes to county jail inmates in the state, that number is tripled.

When the state’s 23 counties replied to a request for information on in-custody deaths, results showed that of 34 deaths total, two-thirds were suicides.

Wyoming does not have a regulatory mechanism in place that would provide independent oversight over county jails. Change is obviously needed, and perhaps that would be a good place to start.

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