Death of 18-year-old Sheneque Proctor in Bessemer City Jail ruled drug overdose, according to autopsy
BESSEMER, Alabama - The death of an 18-year-old Brighton woman in the Bessemer City Jail last month has been ruled a drug overdose, according to autopsy results released today to AL.com.
Sheneque Proctor was found dead Nov. 2, less than 24 hours after being arrested for disorderly conduct at a Bessemer motel. Her in-custody death sparked concern among some in the black community, leading to a petition and an online movement to get more answers in her death.
"This family deserves some answers we don't need another "I can't breathe" story. Her life mattered and still matters to her family. They deserve answers from the State Bureau of Investigations and the FBI. As Blacks we deserve answers because we know Alabama lawmakers have Open Carry Laws and it seems as if we are getting into the Open Season on Blacks,'' according to the petition posted on change.org. "We are requesting that you, Cong. Sewell, Rep. Holmes, Rep. Knight, and Sen. Ross request both State and Federal investigations in the death of this 18 year old Black female."
About 7,500 have signed the petition. Several Facebook pages also have been set up in her memory.
Proctor was arrested Nov. 1 at 2:39 p.m. after a disturbance at the Economy Inn on Ninth Avenue in Bessemer. Authorities said Proctor struggled with officer during the arrest, and the officers used pepper spray on the woman.
Police charged her with disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, harassment and possession of marijuana. Officers took her to the Bessemer City Jail, where she was 'decontaminated' from the pepper spray and put into a jail jumpsuit.
Authorities and an autopsy report said Proctor showed no signs of physical injury or health problems other than the symptoms from the pepper spray. When the late-night jail staff went on duty, a corrections officer checked on Proctor at 10 p.m. That check was followed by periodic checks throughout the night and early into next day.
Justice for Sheneque.PNG
According to public records, Proctor was sleeping on her back on the bunk and snoring loudly during the routine checks. The jail officer said Proctor was last believed to be alive during the last check at 3:37 a.m.
The jail officer went back to Proctor's cell at 4 a.m. and tried to get her to come to the door for her breakfast tray. When Proctor failed to respond, the officer entered the cell, found her unresponsive and called Bessemer Fire and Rescue.
Rescue workers pronounced Proctor dead at 4:23 a.m.
According to the Jefferson County Coroner's Office, the cause of Proctor's death was complications of polydrug overdose. She had cocaine, methadone and alprazolam in her system, toxicology tests show. Polydrug overdose means a combination of multiple drugs. Alprazolam is used to treat anxiety disorders, panic disorders, and anxiety caused by depression.
The coroner's report lists the manner of death as accidental.
Efforts to reach Proctor's mother, Sherita Proctor, for comment were unsuccessful. The mother and other family members have given interviews to several media outlets, saying she suffered with asthma.
Proctor graduated from high school in May, and was the mother of a 5-month-old son.
The State Bureau of Investigation is investigating Proctor's death, which is standard for in-custody deaths. They have not released any statements about the status of their probe.
Bessemer city officials said they couldn't comment pending the SBI investigation.
BESSEMER, Alabama - The death of an 18-year-old Brighton woman in the Bessemer City Jail last month has been ruled a drug overdose, according to autopsy results released today to AL.com.
Sheneque Proctor was found dead Nov. 2, less than 24 hours after being arrested for disorderly conduct at a Bessemer motel. Her in-custody death sparked concern among some in the black community, leading to a petition and an online movement to get more answers in her death.
"This family deserves some answers we don't need another "I can't breathe" story. Her life mattered and still matters to her family. They deserve answers from the State Bureau of Investigations and the FBI. As Blacks we deserve answers because we know Alabama lawmakers have Open Carry Laws and it seems as if we are getting into the Open Season on Blacks,'' according to the petition posted on change.org. "We are requesting that you, Cong. Sewell, Rep. Holmes, Rep. Knight, and Sen. Ross request both State and Federal investigations in the death of this 18 year old Black female."
About 7,500 have signed the petition. Several Facebook pages also have been set up in her memory.
Proctor was arrested Nov. 1 at 2:39 p.m. after a disturbance at the Economy Inn on Ninth Avenue in Bessemer. Authorities said Proctor struggled with officer during the arrest, and the officers used pepper spray on the woman.
Police charged her with disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, harassment and possession of marijuana. Officers took her to the Bessemer City Jail, where she was 'decontaminated' from the pepper spray and put into a jail jumpsuit.
Authorities and an autopsy report said Proctor showed no signs of physical injury or health problems other than the symptoms from the pepper spray. When the late-night jail staff went on duty, a corrections officer checked on Proctor at 10 p.m. That check was followed by periodic checks throughout the night and early into next day.
Justice for Sheneque.PNG
According to public records, Proctor was sleeping on her back on the bunk and snoring loudly during the routine checks. The jail officer said Proctor was last believed to be alive during the last check at 3:37 a.m.
The jail officer went back to Proctor's cell at 4 a.m. and tried to get her to come to the door for her breakfast tray. When Proctor failed to respond, the officer entered the cell, found her unresponsive and called Bessemer Fire and Rescue.
Rescue workers pronounced Proctor dead at 4:23 a.m.
According to the Jefferson County Coroner's Office, the cause of Proctor's death was complications of polydrug overdose. She had cocaine, methadone and alprazolam in her system, toxicology tests show. Polydrug overdose means a combination of multiple drugs. Alprazolam is used to treat anxiety disorders, panic disorders, and anxiety caused by depression.
The coroner's report lists the manner of death as accidental.
Efforts to reach Proctor's mother, Sherita Proctor, for comment were unsuccessful. The mother and other family members have given interviews to several media outlets, saying she suffered with asthma.
Proctor graduated from high school in May, and was the mother of a 5-month-old son.
The State Bureau of Investigation is investigating Proctor's death, which is standard for in-custody deaths. They have not released any statements about the status of their probe.
Bessemer city officials said they couldn't comment pending the SBI investigation.