Death of Lake County jail inmate under investigation, awaiting toxicology test results

The death of a 61-year-old Chicago man incarcerated at the Lake County jail in Waukegan Friday morning remains under investigation following a preliminary autopsy, pending toxicology results and further medical tests, authorities said.

Troy Davis, who had been serving a 60-day sentence at the jail since April 26, was found lying unresponsive on his bed by a Lake County sheriff’s correctional officer conducting rounds in Pod 3 Southeast at 7:26 a.m.

According to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Davis did not appear to have any suspicious marks or injuries on his body. But he did have underlying medical conditions, the Lake County Coroner’s Office reported.

As per protocol, the sheriff’s office has requested the assistance of the Lake County Major Crime Task Force to conduct an independent investigation.

The correctional officer who spotted Davis in his cell reportedly called to him, but Davis didn’t respond. The officer then entered the cell to try and wake Davis, but found him to be unconscious and not breathing, authorities said.

The correctional officer immediately called a medical emergency on the radio and summoned nursing staff and an ambulance, according to the sheriff’s office. Staff performed CPR and used an automated external defibrillator (AED) to try to resuscitate Davis.

Waukegan paramedics took over primary care when they arrived. But after they performed medical care for an extended period of time, Davis was pronounced dead, authorities said.

Davis’ sentence was based on a conviction after a guilty plea to driving with a revoked license. He did not have a cellmate, being assigned to a single-inmate cell.

The previous round of inmate checks was conducted within 30 minutes before the discovery of Davis’ condition, and at that time he did not appear to be in distress, according to the sheriff’s office.