Cleveland County Sheriff Hinders Jail Deaths Investigation

NORMAN, Okla.– A recent string of in-jail deaths has prompted an investigation by Cleveland County officials. The Cleveland County Board of Commissioners (BOCC) believes that the Sheriff’s lack of action has stalled investigation efforts. 

In a press statement, the board states that a rising number of jail deaths throughout Sheriff Chris Amason’s tenure has warranted calls for concern.

“To address this growing concern, the Board of County Commissioners took action earlier this year, sending out a request for proposals to: identify and analyze the root causes of jail inmate deaths; develop actionable recommendations to prevent future deaths; and enhance overall safety and health protocols within the jail,” the board stated.

In August, commissioners approved a contract with SIMCO Correctional Consulting, a firm specializing in correctional operations and safety protocols. SIMCO has yet to receive any of the information they’ve requested from the Sheriff’s Office. 

In response to accusations, the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office told The Frontier that they have collected “all relevant documents and will be providing them to the District Attorney’s Office for appropriate dissemination.”

Pattern of In-Jail Deaths

Cleveland County Jail gained public attention in December 2023 when a detainee, Shannon Hanchett, 38, died while in custody. Local baker Hanchett, known as the “Cookie Queen,” faced jail time for a misdemeanor charge. Well-known and admired, the news of her death shocked the Norman community. 

Following the death of Hanchett, there have been five additional deaths in the county jail throughout 2024. The most recent case involved Alex Jermaine Wright, 34, who was found unresponsive in his cell on the morning of October 3. Authorities booked Wright into the jail on March 3, seven months earlier, on charges of methamphetamine trafficking, drug possession, and possession of a firearm.

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Authorities are still investigating his death, and have not released the cause of his death. “The Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office has requested the support of the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI), and both agencies will work collaboratively throughout this process,” stated the Sheriff’s Department. “In compliance with policy, the Oklahoma State Department of Health has been notified.”

The first death that occurred in 2024 was William Kenneth Moore. Moore was found unresponsive in his cell in the late hours of April 19. Jail personnel transported him to Norman Regional Hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead. 

Less than a month later on May 4, Thomas Sanchez Pesina died, following a medical episode. In August, the jail witnessed the back-to-back suicide deaths of Daniel Edward Freeman and Nicole Deann McComb.