PORT HUENEME : Prior Injury Blamed in Man’s Jail Death

A man pronounced dead shortly after he stopped breathing in a Port Hueneme jail cell suffered his fatal injuries before he was taken into custody, a coroner’s autopsy determined Saturday.

Roy Whittenberg, 42, of Port Hueneme died as a result of traumatic head injuries caused by a fall in the Bubbling Springs Park restroom where he was found passed-out drunk early Friday, said Deputy Coroner Craig Stevens.

Stevens said the absence of external wounds led to the conclusion that Whittenberg was not assaulted, but merely fell and hurt himself on the concrete floor of the park bathroom.

“He had a skull fracture on the rear of the head and bruising to the front of the brain, which is caused by a falling motion and striking your head,” Stevens said. “If it’s a falling type motion, there is generally not any external evidence and there was none in this case.”

Whittenberg was arrested at 10:30 a.m. Friday after being found in the park restroom and placed in a padded detoxification cell, a Port Hueneme police spokesman said. A check of Whittenberg’s cell about 1:10 p.m. revealed he had stopped breathing. He was rushed to St. John’s Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 2:01 p.m.