Howard County Sheriff Bryan McJunkins reported Wednesday that a 41-year-old female inmate has died while in custody at the Howard County Jail.
The inmate, Leeanna Sue Brown (Martin), was found the morning of July 27 with a bed sheet tied around and to the windows of her jail cell. A jailer freed Brown from the sheet and called for assistance. McJunkins said the inmate was unresponsive and other jail personnel utilizing “life saving equipment and techniques” were unable to save Brown.
The sheriff said Brown was in the jail after being arrested for drug related charges and was scheduled to appear in Howard County Circuit Court July 27 for a first judicial appearance, pending charges being filed by the prosecutor’s office.
The Arkansas State Police was contacted and requested McJunkins to conduct an investigation of the incident. A special agent with the Arkansas State Police was assigned and immediately began the investigation.
