Female inmate who died at Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent identified| Update

Published 5:13 pm Tuesday, August 4, 2020

A 40-year-old female inmate died July 30 after being housed for just 21 hours at the King County jail at the Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent.

Lori Okpeaha died in the jail, according to the King County Medical Examiner’s Office. The office reported on Aug. 4 that the cause and manner of death are pending.

Okpeaha was booked into the jail at 6:38 p.m. on July 29 for a stolen property investigation, according to jail records. She died at 3:37 p.m. on July 30.

As part of the standard review process for jail-related deaths, the Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention will work with Public Health – Seattle & King County to conduct an internal investigation. The Kent Police Department also will conduct an independent investigation.