New details have recently surfaced in the death of Sandra Bland. The 28 year-old Chicago native was found dead in a Texas jail cell last week. Authorities claim Bland’s death was a suicide, yet family members believe a homicide is responsible for her passing.
Bland was arrested on July 10, during a traffic jam stop for not signaling a lane change. According to The New York Times, things escalated when she refused to put out a cigarette, which led to her arrest. Then, three days later, she was found dead. An officer offered her breakfast at 6:30am, and by 9am, she was found deceased.
READ: #SandraBland: Video Surfaces of Chicago Woman Who Died In Texas Jail, Hints Police Brutality
“A Waller County sheriff’s official described a timeline for the jail cell of the woman, Sandra Bland, that started early in the morning of July 13, when she refused a breakfast tray around 6:30 a.m., until a jailer found her hanging shortly after 9 a.m,” The Times reports. “For about 90 minutes during that period, there was no movement by jail officials in the hallway leading to her cell, according to a video that the authorities released from a camera inside the jail.”
Capt. Brian Cantrell of the Waller County Sheriff’s Office said that Ms. Bland replied “I’m fine” when a jailer was conducting rounds shortly after 7 a.m. and later inquired about how to make a phone call. But shortly after 9 a.m., a female jailer saw Ms. Bland hanging in her cell and summoned help. Other officers and emergency medical personnel tried unsuccessfully to administer CPR ,” The Times continued.
READ: #IfIDieInPoliceCustody Hashtag Becomes A Tragic Twitter Trend After Sandra Bland’s Death
Allegedly, officials say Bland committed suicide by hanging herself with a plastic bag. A claim, her family refuses to believe. Yet authorities have also released a new video on Monday (July 20), which showcases officers discovering Bland’s body. Still, the evidence is not enough because there is no footage of Bland’s cell at all.
Walker County district attorney Elton Mathis, told The Times that her family members “make valid points,” because Bland apparently had “a lot of things going on in her life for good. ” Like her new job at Texas Prairie A&M University.
Reportedly, the FBI is heavily investigating the hard drive of the surveillance video to make sure it was not manipulated. Further details for this story are still pending.
Watch the full video below.