JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A 23-year-old Duval County inmate was found dead in his cell during a routine check late Sunday night, and police suspect he killed himself.
The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office said James Patrick Klinger apparently hung himself in a holding cell just before midnight.
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Klinger was booked into jail about 7:30 p.m. on charges of possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and a license plate violation. Records show his only prior arrest was on suspicion of DUI.
Klinger would have turned 24 on Saturday.
Attorney Gene Nichols, who represented Klinger on his recent criminal charges, released this statement on behalf of Klinger's family:
"As you can imagine, James' parents are shocked and saddened by the news. I have personally known James for years and he was a bright young man with a wonderful future ahead of him. We are confident that the Sheriff's Office will take the necessary time to investigate this incident and provide the family with a complete explanation as to what happened to James while in the Duval County Jail. We have reached out to the Sheriff's Office and look forward to their response. We ask for prayers for James' family and friends as they come to grasps with this tragic event."
The death was under investigation by JSO's Cold Case unit, which looks into all deaths while in police custody.