Miramichi jail inmate's death raises questions

Family members of a woman who died while in custody of theNew Brunswick's Women's Correctional Centre in Miramichi in June are wondering whether jail officers should have seen signs that might have prevented herdeath.

Carolyn MarieWarnockdied on June 3 at 26 years of age aftera abscessin her head burst, causingher head to swell, said her family.

Theysaid this resulted in seizures and brain death and then death at Moncton Hospital.

Warnockwas on medication for a sinus infection at the time of her death. Warnock was a heavy drug user and was a waiting a court hearing for allegations of armed robbery, said her aunt CharleneLeblanc.

Two former inmates who knew Warnock and were also in custody when she died said Warnockcomplained about severe headaches for at least two daysbefore her death.

Several family members haveraised questions about whether jail officials should have seen the signs that might have prevented her death.

"We all have the same questions," saidSheilaGuerrier, an aunt of Warnock."We all want to know how she died. If anything was done to prevent it, orcould've been done to prevent her death."

If she was that sick and shereported to them that she continuously complained of pain, whydidn't they get her to seeanother doctor and get herre-lookedat...Cause maybe it might not have come to this point. It might've been prevented.- Charlene Leblanc, aunt of Carolyn Warnock

"If she was that sick and shereported to them that she continuously complained of pain, whydidn't they get her to see another doctor and get herre-lookedat, you know, if she was in severe pain?" saidLeblanc."Cause maybe it might not have come to this point. It might've been prevented."

The Department of Public Safetysaid it is unable to share any information about Warnockdue to privacy reasons.

"It's important to note that all inmates in provincial jails are serving sentences shorter than two years and deaths in custody are very infrequent," said Public Safety spokesperson DaveMacLeanin anemailstatement.

"It's also important to note that when an inmate dies in custody, officials at the institution are required to notify the Office of the Chief Coroner."

According to the Chief Coroner Gregory Forestell, a death that is not of natural causes would warrant an automatic investigation by the coroner's office.

However, he would notcommentspecifically on the details ofWarnock'sdeath.