Inmate Died of Natural Causes, Tests Find

One of three inmates who died mysteriously at a Chowchilla prison died of heart problems, a Madera County coroner’s investigator said Friday.

Pamela Coffey, 46, of Los Angeles died Dec. 2, the first of three unexplained deaths at Central California Women’s Facility.

The deaths prompted a state Senate hearing scheduled later this month, allegations by inmates, relatives and advocacy groups of improper screenings of inmates’ health problems and warnings to inmates to avoid prescription and illegal drugs.

Coffey’s toxicology tests were negative, said Det. Wayne Metcalf: “No prescription meds, no drugs, no alcohol, nothing.”

She died of an inflammation that disrupted her heart rhythm, according to the pathologist’s report.

“She had a bad heart. There’s nothing anybody could have done to save her,” Metcalf said. “I’m sorry that she died in prison, but her death was inevitable, given her condition.”

Coffey was thought to be in good health and prison officials said they did not know about her heart condition.

However, inmates and advocates alleged Coffey was inadequately treated by a medical technical assistant, a guard with medical training, who checked her vital signs and left her in her cell after she collapsed.

The technician couldn’t understand Coffey, who was having trouble talking, so he said he couldn’t help her, her brother, Gary Cunningham of Los Angeles, was told by inmates who were with Coffey at the time.

When Coffey collapsed again, her cellmates said it took 20 to 30 minutes to get help again. She died about four hours later.

Department of Corrections spokeswoman Margot Bach said the natural-causes finding should alleviate concerns “that we’re down there killing people.”

Autopsy results on Stephanie Hardie, 34, of Pomona, who died Dec. 9, and Eva Vallario, 33, of San Diego, who died Dec. 15, won’t be available for at least two weeks, Metcalf said.