Sheriff says there were no signs of trauma
A 25-year-old Orleans Parish Prison inmate charged in the murder of a Gentilly woman in June 2012, was found dead in his cell early Wednesday morning.
Ricky Russell was housed in a cell by himself. He failed to respond for breakfast and could not be revived when he was discovered in his cell.
Sheriff Marlin Gusman says foul play has been ruled out as the cause of his death. "Accident, self-injury and medication reaction are being considered," according to a statement from the sheriff.
Gusman says Russell had denied having suicidal thoughts and therefore was not on suicide watch.
Russell had been indicted on a charge of second-degree murder in the slaying of an elderly woman who had been strangled and bludgeoned to death.
