The Lake County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the death of a Whiting man who died while in custody of Whiting Police.
The Whiting Police Department announced Monday that it enlisted the Sheriff’s Department to lead an investigation into the death of 32-year-old Cordero M. Hill, who died July 5th in the Whiting Police Department Jail. The results of an autopsy and toxicology screen conducted July 6th are pending, according to a Lake County Coroner’s Office release issued Monday.
“We are committed to a fully transparent and rigorous investigation regarding the events of this custody turn,” Whiting Police Chief John Sotello said in the release. “Our detectives are working meticulously alongside the Lake County Coroner’s Office and Lake County Sheriff’s Department to establish an exact timeline and determine the precise cause of death.”
No further details regarding the initial arrest or the cause of a medical emergency are being released at this time, Sotello said in the release. Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez Jr., through Spokeswoman Pam Jones, declined comment because the situation is an “active investigation.”
Additionally, a 70-year-old inmate died in the Porter County Jail after being discovered having a medical emergency in his cell Sunday morning, according to the Porter County Sheriff’s Department.
Gene A. Rush, of the 100 block of Fisher Street in Valparaiso, was found to be in medical distress at 7:41 a.m. Sunday, the sheriff’s office said in a release.
Neither the cause nor manner of Rush’s death has been released by the Porter County Coroner’s Office.
