A Cleveland County Detention Center inmate died Friday morning, the ninth death in the last three years.
According to KOCO 5, Jacob Shane Dieball was pronounced dead just after 10 a.m. by medical crews after being found on his cell bunk. Officials said Dieball was on his bunk, breathing and moving his head and hands around 9:20 a.m., but at 9:35 a.m., staff were alerted for a welfare check on Dieball.
Dieball was found unresponsive but breathing. Medical staff administered life saving measures before EMSSTAT arrived after 10 a.m.
According to an email sent to media outlets by Cleveland County Director of Communications Storme Jones, Cleveland County Sheriff Chris Amason informed the Board of Commissioners of the inmate's death on Friday.
According to state court records, Dieball was arrested in October on multiple charges, including carrying a firearm after a felony conviction, drug possession and drug trafficking.
Before Dieball’s death, an eighth death was announced in October, preceded by two deaths in August, where both inmates died by suicide.
In August, the Cleveland County Board of Commissioners approved a contract with SIMCO Correctional Consulting LLC to investigate potential causes of deaths within the Cleveland County Detention Center.
SIMCO, a firm specializing in the operation and safety of correctional facilities, will conduct an investigation into potential causes of death and provide detailed recommendations for the facility.
“To address the ongoing concerns over in-custody deaths, the Board stresses the need for full cooperation from all parties responsible for housing Cleveland County detainees with SIMCO Correctional Consulting, LLC, the independent consultant hired by Commissioners to identify the root causes of detainee deaths,” a press release reads.
In May 2024, inmate Thomas Sanchez Pesina, 58, was pronounced dead at Norman Regional Hospital. A month prior, William Kenneth Moore, 36, died in custody after a medical episode. In February 2023, Joe Allen Sims Jr., 44, died by suicide while in custody.
Shannon Hanchett, known as the Cookie Queen who ran a bakery in downtown Norman, died in the Cleveland County Jail on Dec. 8, 2022 after being arrested on a complaint of misdemeanor obstruction and false reporting.
In January 2024, a federal lawsuit was filed against the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office, Turn Key Health Clinics and three medical professionals alleging Hanchett had her constitutional rights disregarded, contributing to her death while in custody, but the lawsuit was dismissed months later in August.
Shortly after Hanchett’s death, Kathryn Milano, 66, died in custody on Dec. 20, 2022, after suffering a medical emergency “related to pre-existing medical conditions,” according to the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office.
This story was edited by Ana Barboza.
