Inmate found dead in northwest Indiana jail
LATEST: Detective Sgt. Nathan Graf of the Porter County Sheriff’s Office shared a statement on July 9, 2024: “The Porter County Sheriff’s Office investigated the death of Jacob Medina-Parrish at the Porter County Jail. Jacob was located alone inside of his cell hanging from a piece of bedding, wrapped around his neck. No foul play is suspected and the Porter County Coroner’s Office has ruled his death a suicide. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Jacob’s family and friends during their time of grief.”
VALPARAISO, Ind. (WISH) — An inmate was found dead Thursday night in the Porter County jail, the sheriff’s office said Friday.
He was not publicly identified in a news release from Detective Sgt. Nathan Graf of the sheriff’s office.
The inmate was found about 8:10 p.m. Thursday.
No further information was being shared Friday afternoon, Graf says.
Online information shows the jail opened in 2002 with bunks for 449 inmates.
Porter County has more than 175,000 residents adding about 2,000 people since 2020. The county along Lake Michigan in northwest Indiana is home to Indiana Dunes National Park.
Mental health resources
- Be Well Indiana
- Indiana Suicide Prevention
- Indiana Department of Child Services’ Children’s Mental Health Initiative
- National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: 988 or 800-273-8255
- More resources