Deschutes inmate died of overdose; family still has questions

The state Medical Examiner’s Office has determined that a 31-year-old Bend man died in the Deschutes County Jail in mid-December of a methamphetamine overdose, sheriff’s deputies said Tuesday.

The sheriff’s office received the reports Monday from the state Medical Examiner’s Office, along with a toxicology report, said Capt. Scott Beard.

The cause of death for Edwin Burl Mays, 31, of Bend, was listed as a methamphetamine overdose. Scott noted that meth in the blood is measured by milligrams per milliliter, on a charge that ranges from 0-5, “and Mr. Mays’ results were greater than 5.”

“Our investigation shows that Mr. Mays ingested methamphetamine before being booked at the Deschutes County Jail,” Beard said.

Bend police brought Mays to the jail around 5:40 p.m. on Dec. 14, to be booked on charges of interfering with a police officer, menacing, false information to a police officer, heroin possession and a parole violation.

Around 9 p.m., deputies said, Mays “began showing signs of medical distress in the booking area.” Deputies “began immediate medical care,” they said in a news release at the time, and called Bend Fire Department medics for assistance.

The fire medics responded and took over care, but were unable to save him and pronounced him deceased at the scene.

An initial autopsy by the state medical examiner found no physical injuries or internal organ issues, ruling those out as causes of death.

Officers said Mays was a passenger in a car driven by Adam Lee Davenport, 32, who refused to pull over and led police on a pursuit, eventually reaching a cul-de-sac and running away. Mays was found and detained at the car, while Davenport was found hiding in a nearby home’s yard.

Mays’ uncle told NewsChannel 21 Tuesday they are still devastated that Mays did not get medical care quicker. They said they are demanding to know what happened in the three hours between when he was booked into jail and died.

The family member acknowledged Mays did struggle with drug abuse, and said he might have ingested a large amount of meth to hide it.

Still, he said it was the jail’s responsibility to get Mays medical attention, and claimed they failed to do so.

Jail officials did not return calls for comment on the case Tuesday. The district attorney’s office said it is still investigating the incident.

We’ll have more information as it becomes available.