INMATE DEATH THOUGHT OF NATURAL CAUSES

Preliminary results of an autopsy suggest a 28-year-old inmate in the
Yakima County jail died of natural causes, county Coroner Maury Rice said
Tuesday.

Jessica Ann Littlelight was taken to Providence Yakima Medical Center,
where she died Sunday after collapsing in the jail.

Rice said he is awaiting some test results but concluded from Monday's
autopsy that Littlelight suffered cardiac arrhythmia from what may have
been drug withdrawal.

Littlelight was booked into jail Thursday by Yakima city police on charges
of possession of drug paraphernalia and prostitution.

The corrections department said Littlelight soon complained of being ill,
but she was not hospitalized until Saturday.

Mike Williams, interim chief of security for the corrections department,
said Littlelight was treated at the hospital and returned to the jail early
Sunday morning.

He said Littlelight appeared to be feeling better later on Sunday, but
collapsed after a nap on Sunday evening.