No charges filed in death of work release inmate

ELKHART COUNTY, Ind. -- The Elkhart County Prosecutor's Office will not be filing any criminal charges in the death of a work release inmate who complained of stomach pain for several days but did not receive medical attention.

Laminika Dockery, 36, was a work release inmate at the Elkhart County Community Corrections Work Release facility in Goshen on July 31 when she became slow to respond and was very weak.

She was taken to the hospital and became unresponsive in the ambulance. She was pronounced dead at the hospital.

After Dockery's death, the County Homicide Unit conducted an investigation because her death happened while she was in the custody of the county.

Investigators learned Dockery began complaining of stomach pain just after she entered the facility on July 25, reports said.

She had tested positive for drugs so she was not allowed to leave for employment or any other pass for 7 days.

During those 7 days, Dockery made multiple requests for medical assistance to various staff members, reports said.

They believed Dockery was suffering from symptoms of drug abuse withdrawal and did not obtain medical attention for her, according to the prosecutor's office.

The Elkhart County Coroner's Office conducted an autopsy. It showed she died of an untreated bacterial infection.

Once the investigation by the homicide unit was completed, it was handed over to the prosecutor's office.

Elkhart County Prosecutor Vicki Becker reviewed the evidence and determined there was insufficient evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that staff were aware Docker's symptoms would lead to her death.

No charges will be filed.