Miramichi jail inmate's death raises questions
Marielle Torrefranca | CBC News | Posted: July 16, 2015 12:45 PM | Last Updated: July 16, 2015
Carolyn Warnock's family questions whether jail officials could have prevented her death
Family members of a woman who died while in custody of the New Brunswick's Women's Correctional Centre in Miramichi in June are wondering whether jail officers should have seen signs that might have prevented her death.
Carolyn Marie Warnock died on June 3 at 26 years of age after a abscess in her head burst, causing her head to swell, said her family.
They said this resulted in seizures and brain death and then death at Moncton Hospital.
Warnock was on medication for a sinus infection at the time of her death. Warnock was a heavy drug user and was a waiting a court hearing for allegations of armed robbery, said her aunt Charlene Leblanc.
Two former inmates who knew Warnock and were also in custody when she died said Warnock complained about severe headaches for at least two days before her death.
Several family members have raised questions about whether jail officials should have seen the signs that might have prevented her death.
"We all have the same questions," said Sheila Guerrier, an aunt of Warnock. "We all want to know how she died. If anything was done to prevent it, or could've been done to prevent her death."
If she was that sick and she reported to them that she continuously complained of pain, why didn't they get her to see another doctor and get her re-looked at... Cause maybe it might not have come to this point. It might've been prevented.- Charlene Leblanc, aunt of Carolyn Warnock
"If she was that sick and she reported to them that she continuously complained of pain, why didn't they get her to see another doctor and get her re-looked at, you know, if she was in severe pain?" said Leblanc. "Cause maybe it might not have come to this point. It might've been prevented."
The Department of Public Safety said it is unable to share any information about Warnock due to privacy reasons.
"It's important to note that all inmates in provincial jails are serving sentences shorter than two years and deaths in custody are very infrequent," said Public Safety spokesperson Dave MacLean in an email statement.
"It's also important to note that when an inmate dies in custody, officials at the institution are required to notify the Office of the Chief Coroner."
According to the Chief Coroner Gregory Forestell, a death that is not of natural causes would warrant an automatic investigation by the coroner's office.
However, he would not comment specifically on the details of Warnock's death.