27-04-2025
Woman's death reported at Oklahoma County Detention Center. Medical examiner's office will investigate.
The Oklahoma County Detention Center says it has launched an investigation into the death of an inmate.
Jail officials said a detention officer found Rachel Nalley, 35, unresponsive in her cell in the early hours of April 26.
"The medical examiner will have to rule on a cause of death. They don't really have anything in right now or any indication of what it is," said Mark Opgrande, a county spokesperson.
Nally's condition was observed during a routine welfare check, and the officer summoned medical staff from the facility and the Oklahoma City Fire Department, Opgrande said. Nally was pronounced dead at 7:27 a.m.
"She was not taken to the hospital. She was pronounced deceased by the fire department at the facility," Opgrande said.
Following protocol, the detention center ruled the incident as a homicide, and an investigation was initiated to determine the cause of death, Opgrande said. He added that the investigation by the State Medical Examiner's Office could take up to six months.
Nalley had been detained at the county jail since April 21. The Oklahoma City Police Department arrested her for failing to appear in court for earlier charges. The detention center did not release any other information.
On October 22, 2024, the State of Oklahoma filed misdemeanor charges against Nalley on two charges, according to court dockets.
The first was for engaging in prostitution, and the second was for being in possession of a controlled substance. She had been found with fentanyl, according to the records.
Court records also show McNally was released on bail and two trial dates were set, one for March 5, 2025, and a later one for May 7.
Further details about her court dates, her apparent failure to appear and her subsequent re-arrest were not immediately available.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Inmate awaiting trial found dead at Oklahoma County Detention Center
