A Bulloch County Jail inmate died Thursday after being taken to the hospital. Bulloch County Coroner Jake Futch said there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death, but toxicology and other test results are pending.
Reliford Lee III, 31, had a “medical history,” and when he became ill Thursday, the jail nurse had him transported to East Georgia Regional Medical Center by EMS, said Bulloch County Sheriff’s Inv. Jared Akins.
As is routine when an inmate dies, the case is being investigated by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Statesboro’s GBI Special Agent-in-Charge Micah Ward was not immediately available for comment Friday.
Akins could not elaborate on Lee’s medical issues due to privacy laws. Futch said there were no suspicious circumstances regarding Lee’s death, but said as part of the GBI investigation, Lee’s body was taken to the GBI Crime Lab in Savannah Friday morning.
An autopsy was performed, but investigators await toxicology and histology (skin tissue) tests, he said. Both are common tests usually conducted in a death investigation, he said.
Lee was incarcerated on charges including burglary, false imprisonment, battery, simple battery and criminal trespass, Akins said.
Holli Deal Bragg may be reached at (912) 489-9414.