A detainee at the Wyatt Detention Facility in Central Falls was found unresponsive in his cell Monday. The detainee, Nelson Romero was pronounced dead at Memorial Hospital in Pawtucket. Romero was placed at Wyatt by U.S. marshals from Connecticut. He was arrested on March 16 on a federal criminal complaint charging him with conspiracy to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin.
Officials are awaiting an autopsy from the medical examiner. A spokesperson for the privately run detention facility says foul play is not suspected.
This is the second high-profile incident to occur at the detention center in the last six months. In December, detainee James Morales escaped the center, spurring a days-long man hunt. A report from an investigation on that is expected later this week.
In 2008, a Chinese national awaiting deportation died while in custody at Wyatt. A subsequent investigation led federal immigrations officials to sever ties with the facility.
