An investigation into the death of a pre-mature baby born in the Racine County jail in April has wrapped up. The review by the Kenosha County Sheriff's Department found that jail staff acted appropriately and followed procedure, and it was likely the inmate who contributed to the baby's death. At a news conference Tuesday morning, Racine County Sheriff Robert Carlson said the investigation found jail staff promptly responded to the situation.
Carlson also released still photos from surveillance video showing 20-year-old Melissa Woten doing handstands in her cell the night before the baby was born. Carlson says Woten never mentioned that to jail staff or the nurse who examined her.
Other witnesses in the jail also told investigators that Woten said she wanted to deliver the baby in the jail to file a lawsuit. She also allegedly enlisted the help of another inmate to push on her stomach to "get rid of the baby."
Based on the investigation, Carlson says his conclusion is Woten "very likely contributed to this incident and did this to use a hospital stay to get out of the Racine County Jail."
An investigation of the incident by the state Department of Corrections is still being conducted.
