Authorities release name of female inmate who died at Roanoke County-Salem Jail

ROANOKE COUNTY, Va. – Authorities have released the name of the 31-year-old female inmate who died while in custody.

Candace Leah Devendorf, 31, of Roanoke, was being held with a $2,000 bond on charges out of Roanoke County General District Court.

She was booked into the Roanoke County/Salem Jail on Tuesday, at about 9 p.m., following her arrest by the Roanoke County Police Department and was arraigned the next day with no change in bond.  

Early Thursday morning, Devendorf was found unresponsive in her cell and was despite attempts to rescue her, she was pronounced dead at 2:05 a.m. 

The results of the preliminary autopsy show no signs of trauma or injury; however, the exact cause of death is pending the results of a toxicology screening.  

The investigation is being handled by the Virginia State Police, per Roanoke County Sheriff’s Office policy.

ORIGINAL STORY BELOW:

A female inmate at the Roanoke County-Salem Jail was pronounced dead early Thursday morning.

When a deputy found the inmate unresponsive in her cell, the medical staff was notified and CPR and lifesaving practices were immediately started, including the use of a defibrillator, according to the Roanoke County Sheriff's Office.

Salem Medic 801 and Salem Truck 1 responded at 1:58 a.m. and the woman was pronounced dead at 2:05 a.m. Her body was taken to the medical examiner’s office.

Per Sheriff’s Department policy regarding deaths in the jail, Virginia State Police was notified and is investigating.

The cause of death has not been determined, pending review by the medical examiner’s office.

The identity of the woman has not yet been released, pending notification of next of kin.