Deputies: 65-year-old woman dies at Santa Cruz County Jail

A 65-year-old woman died while in custody at the Santa Cruz County Jail Wednesday, sheriff’s deputies said.

According to sheriff’s Sgt. Kelly Kent, staff found the woman unresponsive in her bed at the Main Jail around 5 a.m.

Medical staff and a correction officer performed CPR until Santa Cruz Fire and ambulance personnel arrived, but the woman was declared dead at 5:24 a.m.

Her name has not yet been released. Kent said she was booked into the jail on Monday for a warrant arrest.

Initial reports by coroner’s investigators indicate the woman died of “probable natural causes.” There was no evidence of criminal activity or suspicious circumstances.

A full autopsy will be performed and toxicology tests are pending.

This latest death comes just months after the Santa Cruz County civil grand jury released a scathing report on conditions at the county’s jails and the investigation into five in-custody deaths occurring between 2012-2013.