Sheriff’s Office: Teen inmate held in Oklahoma jail dies
The Associated Press - May 4, 2019 8:17 am
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – A teenager held at an Oklahoma jail on a rape charge and found unresponsive last week after an apparent suicide attempt has died.
The Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office says John Leroy Daniel Applegate died Wednesday at a hospital after he was found unconscious on April 23rd.
A news release says the 16-year-old had been jailed since February 2nd after being arrested by police in Choctaw, about 15 miles (24 kilometers) east of Oklahoma City. He faced charges including rape and assault. The release says Applegate was being held alone.
Court documents don’t list an attorney for Applegate.
Applegate’s death is the second apparent suicide at the jail this year. U.S. Army veteran Krysten Gonzalez died in January. A judge ruled in February that the jail can no longer house detainees who are awaiting mental health treatment.
It’s currently unclear if Applegate was awaiting a mental health evaluation.