Inmate dies following suicide attempt

Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office Spokeswoman Emily Flax said at approximately 10:45 a.m. Sunday officers with the Brunswick County Detention Facility discovered an inmate, Heather Johnson, 35, unresponsive in her cell of an apparent suicide attempt. Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office Detention Officers and EMS  were able to revive the inmate after working to resuscitate her for over 45 minutes. She was transported to New Hanover Regional Medical Center.

Early Monday morning, Flax said Johnson died from the injuries just after midnight Monday morning at NHRMC.

Flax said, at the request of Sheriff John Ingram, the SBI was contacted to conduct an investigation into the incident, which is standard protocol. The BCSO Office of Professional Standards is also conducting an investigation.  Both investigations are still ongoing. Flax said so far, BCSO policy was followed appropriately and no violations have been found.

The inmate was in normal population and was not on suicide watch. Inmates in normal population are randomly checked on twice per hour.

Johnson was in the detention facility since August 27, 2015 on fugitive from another state (Florida) and heroin and paraphernalia charges.