Family of Woman Found Dead in Beachwood Jail Looking for Answers

Emma Pearson, 51, of Garfield Heights, was found unresponsive in her Beachwood jail cell last week and her family wants answers to questions regarding how she died.

Cleveland.com reports that Pearson had been receiving treatment for substance abuse, diabetes and heart failure. Pearson's brother, Gerald Pearson told Cleveland.com that the family has asked Beachwood jail officials if his sister had been given her medications; they are still waiting for answers.

Pearson reached out to to family members on Monday requesting that someone bring her medication to the jail, she died the following day.

Pearson's brother said that his sister had just taken steps toward getting healthy and was beginning drug treatment.

"We had been hoping and praying for her to turn her life around, and when she decided to do that, we were so happy for her," Gerald Pearson told Cleveland.com. "She was just starting to try and get herself together and make that change and this happens."

Pearson was involved in a shoplifting incident at the Chagrin Blvd. Giant Eagle where a slab of ribs was stolen and drug paraphernalia was found according to police reports.

Beachwood Police Chief Keith Winebrenner says that there is an ongoing investigation.