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Inmate dies after being found unresponsive in Lexington jail cell, police say

A Fayette County jail inmate died Monday night after being found unresponsive in his cell, police announced Tuesday.

MacFarland Childers, 39, was found in his cell by corrections workers just after 9 p.m., according to a news release. Medical staff members determined he needed to go to the University of Kentucky Medical Center, and he was transported by the Lexington Fire Department. He died just before 10 p.m.

Childers was booked into the jail on Monday for failing to appear on charges of theft and contempt of court out of McCracken County, according to the release.

Childers had previously been convicted of methamphetamine possession in May. He had also faced Fayette County charges of receiving stolen property, fraudulent use of a credit card and illegal receipt of a credit card, according to Kentucky corrections department online records.

The Lexington Police Department and the Fayette County coroner’s office were investigating the death. The jail was also conducting an internal investigation, the release said. The coroner’s office said toxicology results were pending.

This story was originally published March 24, 2020 at 11:13 AM.

Jeremy Chisenhall
Lexington Herald-Leader
Jeremy Chisenhall covers criminal justice and breaking news for the Lexington Herald-Leader and Kentucky.com. He joined the paper in 2020, and is originally from Erlanger, Ky.
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