NY Attorney General Schneiderman Looking Into Death Of Woman In Mount Vernon Police Custody
MOUNT VERNON, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Questions continue to swirl around the death of a woman in a Westchester County jail cell.
Raynette Turner was found dead in a Mount Vernon holding cell Monday, two days after her arrest on shoplifting charges.
New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has sent investigators to Mount Vernon. A recent order by Gov. Andrew Cuomo gives Schneiderman the authority to look into cases involving civilian deaths in police custody.
Turner, a 42-year-old mother of eight, was arrested Saturday afternoon, hours after city court ended its weekend session. She was due in court on Monday morning.
On Sunday, however, Turner was reportedly treated for hypertension after complaining she didn't feel well during her weekend jailing.
The Journal News said so far city officials have no explanations for key questions, such as why was Turner kept for the weekend in a holding cell and who made the decision to keep her there.
Turner reportedly had a lengthy record of arrests, many for shoplifting, and was on probation in a larceny case until this year, according to the Westchester District Attorney's office.
Mount Vernon Mayor Ernie Davis is asking for patience and said a "thorough investigation moves forward." He admitted Thursday to feeling social media pressure related to the case. Davis, however, voiced confidence the department followed the rules and did not contribute to the death.
"There's always doubt, and that's understandable," Davis said. "It's understandable to ask questions. But it's not understandable to me to have a circus around her life."
The cause of Turner's death is not yet known. Investigators are awaiting toxicology reports.