Death by Cop 2021-2025
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Melissa Gardee
Gender : Female
Age : 35
Race : Unknown
Date : 03/14/2024
Location : Yakima County Department of Corrections
City :
County : Yakima
State : Washington
Agency : Yakima County Department of Corrections
Officer(s) :Not Disclosed
Cause of Death : Unknown
Event : Found deceased during a routine cell check.
OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :
Melissa Gardee, a 35-year-old inmate at the Yakima County Department of Corrections, was found unresponsive in her cell on March 14, 2024, at approximately 5:55 p.m. Despite immediate emergency medical care and the arrival of ambulance and fire department personnel, she was pronounced dead at 6:43 p.m. Gardee had been in custody since June 4, 2023, facing charges including Assault 2nd Degree, Assault of a Child 2nd Degree, and Domestic Violence Assault 4th Degree.
The Yakima County Sheriff’s Office, in collaboration with the Yakima Police Department, is conducting an investigation into her death. An internal investigation by the Department of Corrections is also underway.
Additional Details:
• Time in Custody: 9 months.
• Discovery: Gardee was found unresponsive during a routine medical check by staff.
• Description of Death: No further description of the circumstances of her death has been disclosed.
• Context: This is the second in-custody death at the facility within a week.
