Female Inmate Dies In RivCo Jail; 3rd In-Custody Death Over 5 Days

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — Another Riverside County inmate has died in custody, it was announced Monday night. It was the third inmate death over the last five days.

Heather Hendy, 29, of Corona was pronounced dead at Riverside's Robert Presley Detention Center shortly after she was found unresponsive in a cell at 4:30 p.m. Sunday.

"Custody staff and jail medical personnel immediately administered life-saving measures. Paramedics responded and assumed life-saving measures. However, she was ultimately pronounced deceased," according to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department, which oversees county jails.

There were no signs of foul play, the sheriff's department reported.

Hendy was in jail awaiting trial, according to the sheriff's department. Court records were unavailable for her Monday night. Jail records show she was arrested Dec. 13 in Corona on suspicion of taking a vehicle without an owner's consent and violating her state parole terms, both felonies. She was also booked on suspicion of misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.

Hendy was the third reported jail death in recent days.

The Riverside County Sheriff's Corrections Central Investigations unit reported an in-custody death at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 15.

Shaundale Booker, 21, 0f Moreno Valley was being held at the Southwest Detention Center in Murrieta when he was admitted to a local hospital to be treated for a medical condition.

Authorities said his condition worsened.

"Hospital medical staff performed life-saving measures; however, he was ultimately pronounced deceased by attending hospital physicians. There were no signs of foul play," according to a statement from the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.

Booker's medical condition was not identified, and his family was notified of his death.

Booker's charges included lewd acts with a minor and possession of obscene images of a minor.

No further information was immediately available.

A felon — who was awaiting trial for the alleged bludgeoning of his jail cellmate — was found dead Dec. 13 in his Riverside jail cell.

Luke Hanchette, 44, of Hemet was discovered unresponsive at 6:51 a.m. at Robert Presley Detention Center. Jail personnel immediately administered life-saving measures; paramedics continued the efforts but Hanchette was pronounced dead at the facility, according to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.

"There were no signs of foul play," the law enforcement agency reported.

No further information about his death was released.

Hanchette was charged in the killing of 48-year-old inmate John Leo Hemmer of South Dakota. Hemmer was found dead on July 21, 2021, inside a cell the two shared at Indio's John Benoit Detention Center, according to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.

Hemmer was allegedly bludgeoned with a metal crutch.

Hanchette was charged with murder and sentence-enhancing allegations of using a weapon during a felony and using a deadly weapon.

Sgt. Ben Ramirez said correctional deputies were doing a routine safety check when they found Hemmer unresponsive with significant injuries. Despite first responders' attempts to save him, Hemmer was pronounced dead.

There was no word on what provoked the alleged attack.

At the time of the killing, Hanchette was in custody awaiting trial on charges of assault on a person causing great bodily injury, court records show. He had prior felony convictions in Riverside County, including assault with a deadly weapon.

Hemmer, meanwhile, was awaiting trial on allegations that he physically abused and choked his girlfriend into unconsciousness during a 2019 road trip. He was charged with nine felonies, including torture, attempted murder, criminal threats and several spousal abuse counts, and faced a potential life sentence if convicted.

Hanchette's next court appearance was scheduled Jan. 17.