Statement from Sheriff Tommy Ford on the Death of a Pregnant Inmate at the Bay County Jail

It is with profound sadness that I share news of a tragic event that occurred early Friday morning, April 4 at the Bay County Jail. A pregnant woman in our custody suffered a medical emergency and, despite the efforts of our medical staff and emergency responders, both she and her unborn child passed away.

On behalf of the Bay County Sheriff’s Office, I want to extend my deepest and most heartfelt condolences to the family and loved ones affected by this heartbreaking loss. We cannot begin to imagine the pain they are feeling, and our thoughts and prayers are with them during this time of unimaginable grief. 

We are in direct contact with the family and are working to provide them with as much information as possible. Out of respect for their privacy, we will not be releasing the name of the deceased or additional details until we have had the opportunity to meet with the family and receive their permission. 

We fully understand and share the concern this incident has generated within our community. A complete and thorough investigation is currently underway, and we are working closely with the District 14 Medical Examiner’s Office to determine the cause of death. At this time, all indications are that this was a medical situation, and we are committed to understanding exactly what happened. 

According to preliminary findings, the inmate began experiencing a medical episode while sleeping and at approximately 12:10 a.m., other inmates alerted security staff, who entered the housing pod within approximately 48 seconds. Medical staff arrived within 3 minutes and immediately began CPR. Bay County EMS arrived within 12 minutes and transported the patient to a local hospital, where she and her unborn child were later pronounced deceased. 

The inmate had been in custody for approximately 30 days and had been under daily medical monitoring by our jail medical department. She had been taken to her outside neonatal specialist for care related to her pregnancy and a preexisting condition. She was also taken to our outside contract medical provider for pregnancies. Jail medical staff had last examined her at approximately 9:00 p.m. the night of her passing. 

We will continue to work closely with the family during this difficult time, and we will do everything in our power to provide answers and transparency. This is a deeply painful event for everyone involved, especially the family. 

Our office remains committed to a full investigation in coordination with the Medical Examiner’s Office, and we will share additional information as soon as we are able and as appropriate.