New York attorney general to investigate woman’s jail death

Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said his office will take over the investigation into what happened to 42-year-old Raynette Turner, who died July 27 in the Mount Vernon Police Department’s cellblock.

Schneiderman announced July 29 that his office had started a probe into Turner’s death while in a holding cell at the Mount Vernon police department, to determine whether a full investigation into the death is necessary.

Cuomo’s order tweaks his original executive order from last month – which named Schneiderman special prosecutor for police-involved deaths of unarmed civilians – to add a paragraph making clear Schneiderman has the authority to investigate Turner’s death. She was taken to a nearby hospital and placed back into a holding cell hours later. No officers were indicted in his death. She was still awaiting her first court appearance last Monday when she was found unresponsive in her cell, officials said.

In issuing the order, Cuomo pointed to the “perception of a conflict” in the justice system because police officers and district attorneys have a close working relationship by necessity.

Among those who asked Cuomo to empower the attorney general was the mother of Eric Garner, a Staten Island man who died after a videotaped police chokehold.

The death has evoked comparisons to the death in Texas of a jailed woman last month, which has drawn national attention.

Ms. Turner’s death is a tragedy for her loved ones, and it raises questions not just from her family, but from her neighbors, elected officials, community members and the media – questions that deserve answers.

“She was going to be brought up to arraignment at 2 p.m. [last Monday], and she was found to be nonresponsive, and she had passed away”, Mount Vernon Police Deputy Commissioner Richard Burke told WPIX-TV.

“Every effort will be put forth by this administration to make sure that Mrs. Turner’s death is investigated in a manner that is comprehensive and thorough”, Mayor Ernie Davis said in a statement.

Turner, 42, was arrested on Saturday, July 25 after allegedly shoplifting some crab legs from a grocery store. “It actually appeared like she died in her sleep”.