SEDGWICK COUNTY—Authorities are investigating the death of an inmate the Sedgwick County jail.
Just after 10p.m. Monday, Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office detention staff discovered an unresponsive inmate identified as 29-year-old Rashawn Pleas of Rockford, Illinois, on the floor of his cell in Pod 6, according to a media release.
On-site medical personnel and Sedgwick County EMS were immediately notified and responded to the scene, where life-saving measures were attempted. He was pronounced dead at approximately 10:52 p.m.
Pleass had been in custody since Dec. 23, 2023, awaiting sentencing in the 18th Judicial District Court on charges of aggravated domestic battery, possession of methamphetamine, and possession of opiates.
The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) and the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office Investigations Division are now investigating the circumstances surrounding the death.
Pleass did not have any obvious signs of trauma and investigators are now awaiting an autopsy and toxicology.
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WICHITA, Kan. - Late Monday evening, the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office detention staff discovered an unresponsive inmate on the floor of his cell.
On-site medical personnel and Sedgwick County EMS were immediately notified and responded to the scene, where life-saving measures were attempted. The inmate was pronounced dead at approximately 10:52 PM.
The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) and the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office Investigations Division are now investigating the circumstances surrounding the inmate death.
The inmate, a 29-year-old man, had been in custody since Dec. 23, 2023, and was facing charges of aggravated domestic battery, domestic battery, and possession of opiates.
This is the first in-custody death of 2025 for the detention center.
Further information will be released as it becomes available, pending the outcome of the investigation and notification of next of kin.