Cobb Sheriff's Office Will No Longer Investigate Jail Deaths

COBB COUNTY, GA — After a series of 11Alive Reveal investigations last year, the Cobb County Sheriff's Office will no longer investigate jail deaths. Instead, the office will request the Georgia Bureau of Investigation for such investigations, the sheriff's office posted on Twitter Tuesday.

Georgia lawmakers met Monday to discuss jail reforms to prevent people from dying inside county jails while waiting for their court hearings or trials. Current laws allow sheriff's offices to investigate the deaths that occur at the jails they oversee, 11Alive reported. Essentially, they can investigate themselves.

This decision from Cobb County Sheriff Craig Owens, who beat incumbent Neil Warren for the position in November, comes after 11Alive Reveal investigations shed light on the death of Kevin Wingo, who died at the Cobb County Jail in 2019.

Wingo, a father of three, died after his cries of anguish and visible signs of distress were ignored or brushed aside by both deputies and medical personnel, according to 11Alive. Details of his death were concealed for nine months, until 11Alive Reveal got access to surveillance videos showing the lack of attention and policy violations that resulted in Wingo's death.

"Under the direction of @CraigForCobb, the CCSO will no longer investigate detainee deaths. Rather, our office will request the @GBI_GA do so to ensure an impartial investigation," the CCSO tweeted Tuesday morning.

Under the direction of @CraigForCobb, the CCSO will no longer investigate detainee deaths. Rather, our office will request the @GBI_GA do so to ensure an impartial investigation. #gapol https://t.co/gKvtiUQIrR
— Cobb County Sheriff’s Office (@CobbSheriff) January 26, 2021

Members of the Georgia House Democratic Caucus held a virtual town hall Monday on possible jail reform regarding jail deaths, 11Alive reported. State Rep. David Wilkerson said he wants the legislature to mandate that all jail deaths in the state be investigated by an outside agency.