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State investigating inmate death at Niagara County Jail

The NYS Commission on Correction confirms today it is looking into the death of DeJuan Hunt. The 25-year-old was being held at the Niagara County jail when he was found unresponsive in his cell. This is the fourth inmate death at the jail which has been looked into by the state. 

In his cell and not responding.

That's how DeJuan Hunt was discovered in late August at the Niagara County Jail. The Niagara Falls man was being held as a suspect in a pair of alleged sexual assaults.

Now, Hunt's death is being investigated by the NYS Commission on Correction. A spokesman telling 2 On-Your-Side, "An investigation into DeJuan Hunt's death is on-going. The commission investigates all in-custody deaths."

Hunt's death is now the fourth inmate death the state commission has reviewed in less than four years.

In December of 2012, two jail inmates were found dead within days of each other, Tommy Lee Jones and Daniel Pantera.

The Buffalo News reported the commission investigation concluded that both were victims of grossly inadequate medical care.

That care was provided by Armor Correctional Health Services, a private, Miami-based company. Armor was still under contract with the jail when Lisa Ann Dietz was found to have hung herself in her cell. Her husband has reportedly filed suit against the Sheriff's Department and Armor for failing to adequately supervise Dietz.

Armor is also the target of a lawsuit filed by State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman. That suit points out a dozen inmates died at the Nassau County Correctional Center in Long Island after Armor was brought in to handle medical care duties. Schneiderman's office alleges five of those inmate deaths were due to inadequate medical care by Armor.

Armor was replaced at medical care provider at the Niagara County Jail last year. A company spokeswoman declined comment about any pending litigation.

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