Earlier this week, we reported on information released by the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department regarding four recent inmate deaths.

Trainee officer fired for death after investigation

Of the four deaths dating back to last November, two were ruled suicides by the coroner, one of an inmate who indicated that if imprisoned he would do harm. This information was known to people he knew on the outside but was not revealed to prison officials. Had they known of the threat, additional precautions and monitoring would have been put in place.

One involved a wanted suspect from Oregon, who had a medical condition he did not disclose during treatment. He was being held pending extradition at Franklin Jail. He was rushed to Kadlec where he later died of this pre-existing condition.

However, the other death involved a methamphetamine overdose, and an officer was fired for it.

KEPR-TV reports, as do we, that Faviola Valenzuela de Pasco was arrested and taken to prison on March 12, and while in custody she resisted and fought with officers. She was placed in an observation cell, then on March 15 was found unconscious. Medical efforts to resuscitate her failed and the autopsy showed she died from a lethal dose of methamphetamine.

The ensuing investigation showed that the trainee officer failed to follow protocols and was fired the following day. There are unconfirmed reports of possible worker tampering with records, but these have not been confirmed or verified.