EL DORADO — Authorities in Union County are investigating after a 43-year-old woman died after complaining of breathing problems in jail.
Cynthia Brock was booked Thursday in the county jail after pleading guilty to first-degree sexual assault, Union County Sheriff Mike McGough said. The sheriff told the El Dorado News-Times that a deputy made regular rounds Friday night and Brock had her breathing machine and reported no problems.
But later that night, Brock alerted jail staff that she was having problems breathing, and she was taken to Medical Center of South Arkansas.
"The staff heard something, went to where she was, and she had her inhaler in her mouth and was having trouble breathing," McGough said.
Brock died early Saturday at the hospital, McGough said.
The sheriff said jail staff members knew Brock suffered from various medical conditions, and special arrangements were made to accommodate her. She was being held in a private area, rather than a cell, so she would be closer to staff if she needed help, he said. A Union County sheriff's office employee checked on her about every 30 minutes, according to the sheriff.