Linn County Jail inmate being held for U.S. marshals found unconscious in cell, later pronounced dead

CEDAR RAPIDS — A Linn County Jail inmate in custody as a hold for the U.S. Marshals Service was found unconscious in his cell Saturday evening and later pronounced dead, according to the Linn County Sheriff's Office.

The sheriff’s office on Sunday afternoon identified the man as Charles Nathan Beasley, 34, of Chicago.

At 8:20 p.m., a deputy performing a cell check discovered Beasley as unconscious and unresponsive in his cell, a news release stated. A medical emergency was declared over jail radios and other staff responded.

They discovered Beasley wasn't breathing and had no pulse. Staff began CPR and connected him to an automated external defibrillator. Paramedics from Area Ambulance Service also came for medical support. Beasley was later pronounced dead.

According to the news release, he had been in the jail since April 29 and was checked on by staff 52 minutes earlier.

When reviewing jail video, sheriff's office investigators found no apparent cause for the medical emergency, according to the release.

Beasley’s body has been transported to the State Medical Examiner’s Office in Ankeny for an autopsy to determine the cause of death. The investigation into his death continues.

This is the seventh Linn County inmate death that has occurred since the beginning of 2020. On March 24 this year, Malorie Shea Hults was found unconscious by a corrections officer. After emergency medical assistance, she was taken to Mercy Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.