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Inmate dies in La Porte County Jail

LA PORTE COUNTY, Ind. (WISH) – An inmate’s death in the La Porte County Jail is the subject of an investigation.

According to the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office, 33-year-old Rachel Barnes was found unresponsive and not breathing by a deputy just after 1:30 a.m.

Deputies performed several life-saving procedures on Barnes but were unable to resuscitate her.  Barnes was soon pronounced dead.

Barnes was arrested on April 17 after driving into a pond on County Road 250 near the Porter and La Porte County line. Barnes vehicle was found by a neighbor completely submerged in water. According to the La Porte County Sheriff’s Deputies, Barnes had a BAC of .447 percent.

Barnes had been in the La Porte County Jail since April 17.

The investigation is ongoing. An autopsy was pending on Sunday evening.