Unborn child of pregnant jail inmate in Orange County dies

Authorities are investigating the death of a pregnant inmate’s unborn child who died over the weekend.

On Saturday, July 27, a 30-year-old inmate housed at the Intake Release Center in Santa Ana was taken to OC Global Medical Center related to her pregnancy of about 27 weeks, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department said.

Later that day she was transferred to UCI Medical Center, where it was determined that her unborn child was dead.

“The official cause of death is pending investigation by the coroner’s division,” sheriff’s spokeswoman Carrie Braun said in a statement. “An autopsy will be conducted and a cause of death will be determined.”

The inmate’s identity was not released by authorities. She was arrested by Orange police for two misdemeanor warrants and booked on July 21, Braun said.

Officials with the Orange County District Attorney’s Office will investigate the case, while the Sheriff’s Department will do an in-custody death review.