Jefferson County jail inmate dead after ‘attempting to harm himself’ is second such death in 1 month
A Jefferson County Jail inmate died at the hospital, four days after he was found “attempting to harm himself” in his cell.
The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office identified the inmate as Charlie James Dunn. He was 27 and lived in Bessemer.
Chief Deputy Coroner Bill Yates said Dunn was found inside his cell at 3:20 p.m. April 26.
He was taken to UAB Medical West where he remained until he was pronounced dead at 3:52 p.m. Wednesday.
Authorities said Dunn had used a bed sheet to hang himself.
Jefferson County Judge David Carpenter said Dunn remained on life support after being pronounced because he was an organ donor.
The judge dismissed all cases against him on Thursday so that his family could be there to instruct the hospital to harvest his organs and remove him from life support.
Dunn had been booked into the county jail in Bessemer on April 14 on charges for drug possession and receiving stolen property.
He was also under indictment for attempted murder for shooting into a vehicle.
Dunn is the second inmate at the jail in Bessemer in recent weeks to die at UAB Medical West after self-harm.