Inmate Death Under Investigation in Pinellas County

Cover photo for illustrative purposes only. Photo by Jobs For Felons Hub | Flickr

According to a February 12, 2024 press release from the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, Detectives assigned to the Robbery & Homicide Unit are investigating the death of 37-year-old inmate Jesse Stout.

Detectives say Stout was booked into the Pinellas County Jail on September 29, 2023, for Domestic Battery, 2 counts of Violation of Pre-Trial Release, Tampering with a Witness, and Resisting an Officer without Violence.

On Saturday, February 10, 2024, at approximately 6:40 p.m., detention staff responded to a possible Fentanyl exposure within Pod 5 of C-Barracks at the Pinellas County Jail. Detectives say four inmates exhibited symptoms from the exposure and were transported to the hospital. Before one of the inmates left for the hospital he stated, “I snorted Fentanyl."

Additionally, one nurse, three detention deputies, and a Largo Fire Department paramedic were treated for non-life-threatening symptoms. It appeared at the time that this was an isolated exposure, and it was contained within Pod 5. Pod 5 was evacuated and all inmates and areas within the pod were searched.

On Sunday, February 11, 2024, at approximately 1:45 a.m., detention staff responded to Pod 6, across the hallway from Pod 5 in C-Barracks, after discovering that three inmates exhibited symptoms of possible Fentanyl exposure. Detectives say Stout was unresponsive in his cell and detention staff, along with EMS personnel, performed life-saving measures.

Stout and two other inmates were transported to the hospital. At approximately 3:38 a.m., Stout was pronounced deceased. Two inmates remain in the hospital in stable condition and the other inmates have returned to the jail. Stout’s next of kin has been notified.

Throughout the course of the investigation, detectives discovered that the inmates gained access to Fentanyl by an inmate who swallowed small baggies of the drug at the time of his arrest. Once the drugs passed, he dispersed them to other inmates within the jail.

Based on the second incident, all housing pods within C-Barracks were systematically evacuated, searched, and determined to be safe for inmates to return. When detectives interviewed Pod 6 inmates and asked them why they would take the drugs after witnessing the Pod 5 inmates’ overdose, they responded with, “because we are drug addicts.”
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As of publication, the investigation is ongoing. Further update will come from the Public Affairs Office.