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Darke County Sheriff
Inmate death
investigation
The Darke County Coroner’s Office and the Darke County Sheriff’s Office
are investigating the death of an inmate while incarcerated in the
Darke County Jail. On Wednesday July 6, 2016 at approximately
7:10 AM corrections officers discovered 50 year old Thomas Rochow, of
Greenville, Ohio lying on his bed pulseless and not breathing.
Corrections officers and deputies performed CPR including the
application of an AED in an attempt to revive Rochow. Greenville
Township Rescue Paramedics also responded and provided advanced life
support care. Rochow was not resuscitated and was pronounced dead
in the jail.
Darke County Coroner, Dr. Timothy Kathman and Chief Coroner’s
Investigator Joe VanVickle responded to the scene to investigate.
Detectives from the Darke County Sheriff’s Office were also assigned to
investigate this case.
Thomas Rochow was arrested by the Greenville Police Department on the
afternoon of July 4, 2016 for an outstanding warrant out of Darke
County Common Pleas Court on felony theft charges. Rochow was
booked into the Darke County Jail on that date at approximately 2:42
PM. Rochow was placed in general population at the Darke County
Jail. The Darke County Jail utilizes single occupancy cells
therefore Rochow has no other inmates in his cell. On the morning
of July 6th he was awakened at 6:30 AM along with all other inmates in
his ward. Rochow exited his cell and spoke with a corrections
officer requesting that he remain in his cell in lieu of doing morning
cleaning duties because he was not feeling well. Rochow’s request
was granted and he immediately returned to his cell and the door was
secured at approximately 6:32AM. At 7:10 AM corrections officers
opened Rochow’s cell door and he was called out for breakfast and he
did not respond. The corrections officer checked Rochow and
discovered him lying on his bed as if he was sleeping. The
corrections officer tried to get Rochow to respond and discovered he
was in cardiac arrest.
The preliminary investigation finds that Rochow did not appear to have
any traumatic injury. There is no evidence or information that he was
involved in any assault. He was cooperative while in the jail and
no physical use of force was utilized while in the jail.
The body of Rochow was taken to the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office
for a forensic examination. According to Darke County Coroner Dr.
Kathman, cause of death is pending lab results and toxicology that
could take several weeks.
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