On October 8, 2017, 46-year-old Kelli Leanne Page died following an altercation with jailers in Coryell County Jail in Gatesville, Texas. On December 6, 2017, news was announced that Ms. Page’s custodial death has been ruled a homicide. According to Coryell County Justice of the Peace Coy Latham, who pronounced Ms. Page dead, no criminal charges have been filed. Texas law states that even if a death is ruled a homicide that happened because of another person’s actions, criminal activity is not necessarily involved. Latham will set a court date for a formal death inquest before Christmas. The inquest will be held in open court, Latham said. In the meantime, investigating entities are allowed to withhold information regarding the custodial death pending an inquest.
On the day of the fatal incident, Ms. Page had begun banging on her cell with a hairbrush and screaming. Officers opened her cell and found that she was combative. They used various means in an attempt to restrain her. Ultimately, they handcuffed her with her hands behind her back. Allegedly, during the altercation, a jailer struck her on her face. She was also struck with a fist. After the handcuffs were on, Ms. Page was turned onto her left side; and detention officers noticed that she wasn’t breathing or moving. She was given CPR and transported to a nearby hospital by Coryell County emergency medical services. A short time later, however, she was pronounced dead.
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