Family of Naperville Woman Who Died in Jail Seeks Independent Autopsy

The family of Sandra Bland, the 28-year-old Naperville woman who died in a Texas jail cell under suspicious circumstances, is calling for an independent autopsy.

ABC Chicago reported on the family’s request Sunday. The family’s attorney, Cannon Lambert, told ABC the family expects results within 48 to 72 hours.

Meanwhile, members of Bland’s church, the DuPage African Methodist Episcopal Church in Lisle, staged a prayer walk in her memory on Sunday.

“This is not a protest. It is a demonstration of faith,” Pastor James Miller said as members prayed, sang and walked.

Bland attended the church until recently. She was moving to Texas to take a job at her alma mater, Prairie View A&M, where she graduated in 2009. Bland was traveling in Texas with her mother for a speech when her car was pulled over for a traffic-signal violation and she was arrested.

Bland’s arrest was recorded on video by a bystander.

Bland was arrested July 10 for allegedly kicking an officer after she was pulled over. She was found dead in her cell the morning of July 13. Her death has been ruled a suicide. The FBI and Texas Rangers are conducting an independent investigation into her death.

The officer involved with the arrest has been assigned administrative duties due to violations in police department procedures during the arrest. When the investigation is over any violations of protocol will be addressed.

Lee McGinnis, a member of DuPage AME who knew Bland, told the Chicago Tribune that she worked with church youth and that her death “rocked our church community and our church family.”

The Rev. Kevin Thornton said he believes the circumstances of her death warrant investigation.

“We have a young lady on her way to teach at the college she graduated from,” he told the Tribune. “A ticket for changing lanes doesn’t normally consist of you getting out of your car.”