Around 9:20 Saturday night, 47-year-old Patricia Kay Michaelis was brought into the Laramie County Detention Center by the Cheyenne Police Department on charges of shoplifting.
Michaelis was brought in uncooperative. She refused to answer questions, but followed basic directions given by jail staff. Medical staff conducted an initial medical assessment where Michaelis showed no indicators of needing medical clearance from the hospital before being housed. Michaelis was searched and put into a holding cell in booking.
Later, during routine checks, staff discovered Michaelis was unresponsive. Deputies and medical personnel immediately provided medical assistance, including CPR, in attempts to resuscitate Michaelis.
At 11:15 that night, Michaelis was pronounced deceased by Cheyenne Fire and Rescue after she failed to
respond to lifesaving measures.
The Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation has been requested to conduct an independent investigation of this incident. Cause of death is unknown at this time, as the investigation remains on-going. Once the review is complete, the findings will be released by the Laramie County Sheriff’s Office.