Ventura County Inmate Found Dead While Awaiting Court Appearance

VENTURA (AP) — Authorities say an inmate was found dead while awaiting a court appearance at a Ventura County jail.

The Sheriff's Department says in a statement that an inmate at the county's pre-trial detention facility called a deputy to his cell early Saturday to say that cellmate Gregory Turnquist was unresponsive.

The statements says more deputies, a nurse, and eventually paramedics came to the cell, but Turnquist could not be revived and he was declared dead about 15 minutes after the initial call for help.

The department's major crimes unit and the coroner's office are investigating the death. There was no immediate word on the cause.

The 43-year-old Turnquist had been arrested Wednesday on suspicion of elder abuse and making criminal threats. He was awaiting a Sunday arraignment.

(© Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)