Husband of 44-Year-Old Mother of 8 Who Died in Police Holding Cell Demands Answers

The husband of a 44-year-old mother of eight who died in a Westchester County holding cell Monday after being arrested on a shoplifting charge for the third time in recent weeks says if officers had done their jobs, his wife would still be alive.

Police say the woman, identified as Raynette Turner, was found unresponsive in her cell in the Mount Vernon Police Department, where she was being held pending arraignment.

"I'm angry. I'm very angry," Turner's husband, Herman Turner, told NBC 4 New York Tuesday. "Somebody needs to pay."

Turner, who had eight children, had been arrested Saturday afternoon in Restaurant Depot, a wholesale cash and carry foodservice supplier, on Columbus Avenue. She was brought to the Mount Vernon holding facility and processed.

On Sunday, around 7:30 p.m., authorities say Turner complained of feeling ill and was taken to a hospital for treatment. Turner was treated at the hospital and released by doctors; she returned to the holding cell shortly before 10 p.m.

Less than 24 hours later, she was dead. Authorities say Turner was found unresponsive in the holding cell around 2 p.m. Monday when authorities went to take her to a court hearing. She had last been seen conscious, sitting up in her cell, some time between 12 p.m. and 1 p.m., authorities said.

Herman Turner said it never should have happened.

"Not like this," he said in tears. "I mean, a petty larceny and she's dead?"

Inmates at the Mount Vernon facility are continually monitored on surveillance video and police log their behavior on an hourly basis. Authorities say the last note on Turner indicated she was laying on her side and appeared to be sleeping.

Officials say nothing appeared out of the ordinary; Turner was the only one in her cell.

Herman Turner believes officers should have checked on her more frequently.

"If they did their job, they would have seen that and they would reacted to that and maybe, just maybe, I had that 2 percent chance of my wife being alive," he said.

Turner likely died between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m., officials said, though the investigation is preliminary. The medical examiner will conduct an autopsy to determine her cause of death.

Police say the woman had previously undergone bariatric surgery and had a history of hypertension. They say there is no indication of foul play.

Herman Turner said he has not been able to get a hold of medical records from the hospital. He said she seemed to be in good health and could not imagine why she would die so suddenly.

Mount Vernon Mayor Ernest Davis offered his condolences to the Turner family in a statement Wednesday. 

"Any time anyone loses a loved one, under any circumstance, it can be cause for concern," Davis said. "I can say at this time there are a number of law enforcement agencies investigating this matter, therefore we are unable to make more detailed statements that may compromise the investigation. We assure you that this investigation will be expeditious and thorough."

The Westchester County district attorney's office said it is awaiting toxicology and microbiology results, which could take a few weeks. 

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