Sheriff: GBI is investigating inmate’s death at Muscogee County Jail

A Muscogee County Jail inmate has died of hanging in an apparent suicide at the facility.

The inmate was identified as Roger B. Tyler, 41, said Muscogee County Deputy Coroner Charles Newton. Tyler was pronounced dead at 3:55 p.m. Tuesday by an emergency room doctor at Midtown Medical Center.

Newton said Tyler’s body will be sent to the crime lab in Decatur for an autopsy.

At the jail on 2 South, Newton said Tyler was found in the shower area with a pair of pants that he had been wearing. Tyler also was dressed in a pull over shirt. “It appeared that he didn’t go in there to take a shower,” Newton said.

Newton said emergency medical personnel were called at 3:49 p.m. and arrived six minutes later. Newton said Tyler had been in the area about 20 minutes before he was found.

Sheriff Donna Tompkins, who took office three weeks ago, said she was notified about 4:30 p.m. on the death of an inmate in the section 2 South. She said a team from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation was on the scene as part of the death investigation.

Jail records show that Tyler was booked into the county jail on Dec. 22 to face one count each of criminal trespass and disorderly conduct charges.

This story was originally published January 24, 2017 at 8:19 PM with the headline "Sheriff: GBI is investigating inmate’s death at Muscogee County Jail."