July 11, 2025

LAWRENCE — The Douglas County Sheriff’s Department said an inmate in the Douglas County jail died while in custody Saturday morning. The jail staff administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation and Lawrence-Douglas County fire and medical personnel responded, Sgt. Stephen Lewis said. The inmate was transported to Lawrence Memorial Hospital, where she died. The coroner’s office identified the inmate as Rachel Hammers, 32, who the Lawrence Journal-World reported had been arrested on a bench warrant for failure to appear in court on a DUI charge. Lewis said that by state law, all in-custody deaths are to be investigated by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, which is doing so. Since its opening more than 12 years ago, this is the first time an inmate has died in the jail, Lewis said.
Tuesday, May 15, 9 a.m.

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