July 23rd, 2015 - Death Investigation of Kindra Chapman
My office is in the process of reviewing the investigation into the death of Kindra Chapman while she was in custody at the Homewood City Jail. We have received the reports of the offense that led to her arrest, and determined that there was probable cause for her arrest and custody. We have received the reports from the officers on duty the evening of her death as well as the reports of the investigating detective. We have also received the statement of a witness who was in the custody of Homewood Police that same evening. Most importantly, we have received the video surveillance recordings from several cameras in and around the Homewood City Jail.
At this time, we are awaiting the final autopsy report from the Jefferson County Coroner's Office, which will include a toxicology report. I have spoken with the coroner's office and received preliminary information about the cause of death. At this time, we have reviewed the coroner's information, the inmate's statement, the investigative reports, and the video recordings. Once we receive the final autopsy report and complete our review, my office will issue further findings in this matter.
At this time, I have made a preliminary determination concerning Ms. Chapman's death. Ms. Chapman was arrested on the evening of July 14th, 2015 for the charge of Robbery First Degree. She was transported to Homewood City Jail and booked into the jail. There is no evidence that she received any injury when she was taken into custody or when she was transported to the jail. Neither the video recordings of her entering the jail, nor the video recordings of her at the time of booking, indicate that she had any injuries. Throughout the entire process, she appeared to be able to move and function on her own.
After booking, officers with the Homewood Police Department placed Ms. Chapman in a jail cell. Officers were in the process of transporting several inmates from the Homewood City jail to the Homewood Municipal Court for court hearings. During that process, Ms. Chapman was left alone in the cell. While in the cell, the video shows that she appeared to be agitated, and she attempted to damage the contents of the cell. She knocked over a water cooler, took a bed sheet, and stood on the cooler to tie the bed sheet to a wall support rail extending from the ceiling. She then used the sheet to commit suicide.
Shortly thereafter, officers were returning another inmate from court to the same cell. They discovered Ms. Chapman in the cell and immediately began efforts to resuscitate her on floor in the cell. According to the statement made by the inmate, the officers did everything they could for Ms. Chapman. Emergency medical services were contacted, and Ms. Chapman was transported to Brookwood hospital where she was pronounced deceased. The preliminary investigation of the coroner’s office has determined that Ms. Chapman’s only injury is consistent with a self-inflicted death.
At this time, I have seen no evidence of any criminal wrongdoing in the arrest and detention of Kindra Chapman, and I believe that her death is the result of a suicide. I have no plans to release any of the videos related to this matter due to the tragic nature of the situation, but I would be willing to release the video of Ms. Chapman entering the jail facility and the video of the booking process if I receive a specific request to do so by her family. I have spoken with the attorney representing Kindra Chapman’s mother, and explained my findings to him. Prosecutors with my office have also had a meeting with Ms. Chapman’s grandmother, other family members, and several of her friends, to explain the preliminary findings. Ms. Chapman’s friends and family have been through a terrible ordeal, and my heart goes out to them in this time of grief.
These are the facts with which my office is working at this time. Again, we will continue to review the entire investigation, and we will add the final autopsy report to that review when it becomes available. Once our review is completed, we will make further statements concerning our conclusions of this investigation. However, due to the concerns of the public and the accusations being made about the facts surrounding her death, I felt it necessary to make a preliminary statement in hopes of curtailing any anxiety of Ms. Chapman’s family and friends, and for the further purpose of encouraging peace in our community.
