Sheriff’s office identifies inmate who died at the Alachua County Jail

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) - Alachua County Sheriff’s Office officials confirm an inmate has died while in custody at the Alachua County Jail.

Sheriff’s office officials say Thursday at 2:56 p.m. an inmate named Marcus Goodman, 32, experienced a “medical emergency” and died. Officials say the Florida Department of Law Enforcement is conducting an investigation into the cause of the inmate’s death.

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Goodman was arrested in connection to a burglary at the Jiffy Lube on Northwest 13th Street in Gainesville in 2021. His trial was delayed as the court initially determined he was not fit to stand trial.

He was treated at the North Florida Evaluation and Treatment Center and then released into the custody of the Jail. At 9 a.m. on Thursday, he was scheduled for a hearing at the Alachua County Courthouse to determine if he was fit to stand trial. He died at the jail later that afternoon.

“Marcus Goodman was pronounced deceased at the hospital after suffering a medical emergency at the Alachua County Department of the Jail,” said Sheriff Clovis Watson in a statement. “In the interest of transparency and to gather the facts, I requested the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) conduct the investigation as to what transpired. Our Office of Professional Standards will also complete an investigation to determine if policies and procedures were followed. As the Sheriff of Alachua County, my deepest condolences go to Mr. Goodman’s family.”

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