Calhoun County, AL – The Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office has released information regarding an inmate that died while in custody. James Kerry Kennedy, 67, of Dearmanville, was taken into custody on February 25, 2023, on charges of Violating a Domestic Violence Protection Order and Domestic Violence 3rd. He was processed and brought to the medical section of the jail where he had remained. On March 2, 2023, at approximately 5:30 pm, a Calhoun County Correctional Officer was conducting her rounds when she observed that Kennedy may be in medical distress. The Correctional Officer immediately escorted him to a nurse where he began to have difficulties breathing. The nursing staff and correctional officers started conducting lifesaving efforts as the fire department and EMS were in route to the facility. County staff deployed an AED Defibrillator until Kennedy was able to be transported to Anniston Regional Medical Center where he succumbed to the medical event.
Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office Lieutenant, Falon Hurst, advised that he did not want to speculate as to the cause of death due to the investigation still being active. The Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office has requested the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office conduct the investigation to ensure transparency. Kennedy’s body was transported to the Medical Examiner’s Office for complete autopsy.
