LOCAL

Coroner identifies inmate who died in Tippecanoe County Jail

Ron Wilkins
Lafayette Journal & Courier
Tippecanoe County Jail/file

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — William P. Starks Jr., an inmate at the Tippecanoe County Jail, died in his cell late Monday morning, according to Indiana State Police and Tippecanoe County Coroner Carrie Costello.

Other inmates alerted jail guards that the Starks, 42, was having a medical problem in his cell, according to the Indiana State Police news release.

Jail officers found Starks unresponsive and began life-saving efforts. They were unable to revive him, and he was pronounced dead at the jail.

"The preliminary investigation does not indicate any signs of foul play," the state police news release states.

“As soon as he was pronounced deceased, I told Capt. (Tom) Lehman to call Indiana State Police,” Tippecanoe County Sheriff Bob Goldsmith said, explaining the state is investigating if any crimes might have happened in the inmate's death.

Meanwhile, the Tippecanoe County Sheriff's Office started an internal investigation to make sure the jail officers followed procedures and policy, Goldsmith said.

Jail records indicate that Starks was booked in about 9 p.m. Sunday. Inmates alerted jail officers his medical problem at 11:57 a.m. Monday, according to Tippecanoe County Sheriff's Office records.

Just after 8 p.m. Sunday, Lafayette police stopped Starks in the 2500 block of Greenbush Street and arrested him on a warrant for failure to appear in the 2005 case, according to Lafayette police and the jail's book-in records.

Goldsmith said there are challenges in running a jail, including a variety of inmate health problems.

“Our average daily stay is 11 days,” Goldsmith said, describing the inmates as coming with diverse health issues from homelessness to chemical addictions.

“A lot of people when they come into our jail, don’t live a healthy life,” he said, noting that the medical staff is tasked with providing for the health needs.

In the time that an inmate is there, medical staff and jail officers can encourage them but ultimately, an inmate makes decisions about his or her health choices while in the jail.

“There’s not a lot you can do for them in that short amount of time," Goldsmith said. “People are coming and going all the time.”

Reach Ron Wilkins at rwilkins@jconline.com. Follow on Twitter: @RonWilkins2.