POLK COUNTY, Fla. – An inmate with pre-existing heart conditions died after suffering an unknown medical episode while reading a book in his cell early Wednesday night, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office.
Deputies said no foul play is suspected in the death of Thomas Scott Henry, 58.
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Henry was reading a book in bed around 11:50 p.m. at the South County Jail when he made groaning noise and fell back in his bunk, according to authorities. Inmates rushed to help him and started CPR until jail personnel could treat him.
He was taken to Lake Wales Medical Center, where he died at 1:13 a.m. Thursday.
Officials said Henry had an enlarged heart, two stents inserted in his coronary arteries and calcification in his coronary arteries. His cause of death has not yet been determined.
Henry did not report any medical complaints since be was booked into the jail on Aug. 2 on charges of possession of methampetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, felony petit theft, grand theft and driving with a restricted license, according to a news release. Deputies said he had 21 felony convictions, 14 misdemeanor convictions and more than a dozen prior arrests.
The investigation into his death in ongoing.