Jury Says Martinez Jail Inmate Killed Himself

MARTINEZ - An inmate facing robbery charges who died at a Martinez jail last year was found by a jury on Wednesday to have killed himself, Contra Costa County sheriff's officials said.

The jury convened for a coroner's inquest in Martinez to make a finding in the death of Keith Chapman, a 38-year-old Walnut Creek man who died at Martinez Detention Facility on Aug. 22.

At about 4:30 p.m. that day, Chapman was found hanging from a bed sheet in his cell and was later pronounced dead by paramedics, according to the sheriff's office.

Also on Patch: Man Dead Of Apparent Suicide In Martinez Jail Was Facing Robbery Charges

Chapman was originally booked into Martinez Detention Facility on Nov. 11, 2014, on a robbery charge as well as a weapons charge and a probation violation, sheriff's officials said.

After hearing testimony Wednesday, the jury's verdict was that Chapman died by suicide.

Coroner's inquests are held by the county in fatal incidents involving deputies or officers or in-custody deaths.

A jury rules on the manner of a person's death, which may include accident, suicide, natural causes or non-accidental causes.

-Bay City News, image via ShutterStock