Man, 53, Found Dead In Lake Co. Jail Cell On New Year's Eve Identified

LAKE COUNTY, IL — The Lake County Coroner's Office has identified an inmate who was found dead inside his jail cell on New Year's Eve.

The inmate who died has been identified as Arthur Bankston II, 53, of Zion, according to the coroner's office. Preliminary results from an autopsy are pending further testing, including toxicology tests.

There were no suspicious marks or any injuries found on Bankston during the autopsy, according to the coroner's office.

Bankston, who had underlying medical conditions, was remanded to the Lake County Jail on Monday on a drug-related charge. Due to a number of his health-related issues, he was assigned to be monitored in the "1 East" cellblock of the jail, according to the coroner's office news release.

He was assigned to a double-inmate cell but did not have a cellmate at the time of his death.

Correctional officers were first called to his cell at about 9:35 p.m. Tuesday and found Bankston unresponsive in his cell. Medical staff attempted lifesaving efforts and after a lengthy attempt to save his life, a doctor pronounced Bankston dead.

The Lake County Major Crime Task Force is investigating the death, which is typical protocol for inmate deaths at the Lake County Jail.