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Incarcerated man found deceased at county jail; autopsy scheduled

A 53-year-old man who was incarcerated in the Chelan County Regional Justice Center has died.

When preparing to serve breakfast, correctional deputies found the man unresponsive in a general population cell at about 5:30 a.m. on April 26. Staff immediately began life-saving efforts, and crews from the Wenatchee Valley Fire Department and Ballard Ambulance continued those efforts upon their arrival. However, the man was pronounced dead at 5:46 a.m.  

The man’s body is now in the care of the Chelan County Coroner’s Office; an autopsy is scheduled to determine the cause of death.

The Wenatchee Police Department is overseeing a review of the incident. The man’s name will be released at a later time, pending notification of the family.

“The safe, secure care and custody of individuals incarcerated at the jail is the highest priority for our staff,” said Chris Sharp, director of the Chelan County Regional Justice Center. “When someone passes away in our facility, we take it very seriously because of our commitment to the role we play in our community’s safety. Staff involved with the life-saving efforts have been offered peer support, and we will continue that support as long as it is needed.” 

The other incarcerated people who were in the general population cell with the deceased man have also been offered grief support, and staff will continue to offer them support as needed, Sharp said.

Last Updated: 04/27/2026 12:06 PM

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