Altercation may have preceded Butler County jail suicide death

The Butler County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate the suicide death of a Cincinnati woman found hanging in the county jail on Tuesday.

Samantha Young, 21, who was in jail for a probation violation, died from hanging in the Hanover Street facility, according to the Butler County Coroner’s Office. Her death was ruled a suicide by the coroner’s office.

According to Sheriff Office Lt. Rick Bucheit said there are reports that Young had been involved in an altercation with another inmate sometime before the suicide.

FIRST REPORT: Death in Butler County Jail ruled suicide

At approximately 2:20 p.m. Tuesday, a corrections officer discovered Young unresponsive. She had a bed sheet tied around her neck, and her knees were bent, officials said. Corrections officers got Young down and started CPR until medical staff arrived. Despite efforts, she was pronounced dead at the jail by coroner’s office staff.

Young was booked into the Butler County Jail on Jan. 14 for a probation violation.

Young was arrested in September 2016 for drug charges involving marijuana and a needle. She pleaded guilty to attempted possession of drug abuse instruments and was placed on two years’ probation, according to court records.

According to Bucheit, Young was not on suicide watch. She was housed in a cell with another inmate who was in court at the time of the incident.

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“It is a tragedy,” he said. “Our condolences go out to the family.”

According to this new organization’s records, that last suicide death in the Butler County Jail was in July 2012.

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