CONYERS, Ga. — The Georgia Bureau of Investigation announced it cannot conclusively say how an inmate inside a metro Atlanta jail died earlier this year.
Back on March 12, officials at the Rockdale County Jail called the GBI to help investigate after 22-year-old Shali Tilson of Conyers, Georgia suddenly died. The inmate had only been inside the jail for nine days.
Officials found Tilson alone in his cell at the time of his death, with no apparent injuries or identifiable cause.
The GBI performed an autopsy two days later, during which investigators found Tilson's cause of death to be pulmonary thrombi due to dehydration, essentially blood clots traveled to the lungs. A subdural hemorrhage, or bleeding in the brain usually associated with traumatic brain injury, was also found during the autopsy. However, investigators were unable to say exactly how it happened. No other fractures or injuries were found.
After the autopsy, the GBI ruled the manner of death as "undetermined."
Tilson was came to the jail after he was arrested by Conyers Police on March 3 for two misdemeanor charges – disorderly conduct and obstruction of a law enforcement officer.
A police report stated that during that incident, Tilson was found trying to kick in a door and yelling profanities. Police eventually tried to take him into custody and said he was combative and resisted the entire time – so much so that jail staff had to place him in a transport chair upon arrival.
The report stated he became aggressive yet again when authorities read warrants to Tilson, who allegedly asked them why they didn't just shoot him.
After Tilson's death, the sheriff's office said they would conduct an investigation of the incident and turn any findings over to the GBI. Investigators will also turn over their findings to Rockdale County Sheriff Eric Levett.
"My greatest concern and priority is getting answers to what happened to Mr. Tilson," Levett said at the time. "I am deeply saddened by his death."
The case will now be turned over to the Rockdale Judicial Circuit District Attorney's Office for review. Tilson's family was briefed on the investigation and autopsy shortly after it was performed.
