Yamhill County investigates jail suicide

McMINNVILLE, Ore. (AP) — The Yamhill County Sheriff’s Department has asked another county to conduct an internal investigation after a 52-year-old woman with mental health issues choked herself with a telephone cord in a jail holding cell.

The department said Monday that Debbie Samples, of Sheridan, died at a hospital Saturday.

Yamhill County has asked Washington County to investigate and declined to comment further.

Samples’ mother called 911 on Oct. 12 and responding deputies arrested Samples on multiple misdemeanor warrants.

An attorney representing Samples’ family tells The Oregonian/OregonLive (http://bit.ly/2dLG2Vx) that Samples had attempted suicide earlier that day.

Attorney Amanda Marshall says deputies took her to the hospital but she was released into their custody with orders to be placed on a suicide watch.

The family is considering a wrongful death lawsuit.