A 42-year-old woman held at the Sedgwick County jail died Aug. 19, after her family requested she be removed from life support, according to KWCH. She was pronounced dead at 3:59 p.m.

Her death is the fourth in-custody death at the Sedgwick County Adult Detention Facility in 2026.

The woman attempted suicide by self-asphyxiation on Aug. 13, at the jail at 141 W. Elm in Wichita. Detention staff discovered her at approximately 4:41 p.m. and immediately provided emergency medical care, according to a sheriff's office media release. Sedgwick County EMS and the Wichita Fire Department also responded.

She was transported to a hospital in critical condition and placed on life support.

The sheriff's office said the woman had been on a mental health watch at the time of her attempt, which required documented check-ins every 30 minutes. Staff completed a required check at approximately 4:16 p.m. and spoke with her during that check. They found her approximately 25 minutes later, before her next scheduled check-in was due.

She had previously been placed on suicide watch but was not on suicide watch at the time of her Aug. 13 attempt, according to the sheriff's office. The Wichita Eagle reported she was on a mental health watch, not suicide watch, when the attempt occurred.

The woman had been in custody since June 26, serving a 30-month commitment following a probation revocation.

Her attempt came less than 30 minutes after a separate suicide attempt by a 20-year-old male inmate at the same facility. That inmate was found at 4:18 p.m., hospitalized in serious condition, later discharged and returned to custody. He had recently returned to the jail after receiving mental health treatment at another secure facility and was not on suicide watch.

The sheriff's office said it is withholding the woman's identity at her family's request. It notified the Kansas Bureau of Investigation of her death, as required by Kansas law and sheriff's office protocol. The investigation is ongoing, with no announced timeline for completion.

When the sheriff's office disclosed the two Aug. 13 suicide attempts on Aug. 14, it said both incidents were being reviewed to ensure standard procedures were followed, KSN reported.

The third in-custody death this year involved John Matthew Rockwell, 61, of Valley Center, who died July 30 at a local hospital while being treated for a pre-existing cardiac condition. Rockwell had been in custody since July 17 on a probation violation, according to a sheriff's office release.

Residents with information can contact the Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office at 316-660-0600.

If you are having suicidal thoughts, call or text 988 to reach the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.