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Died in jail or a lockup

Dametria McDile

32 years old · died January 31, 2026 · St. Louis City Justice Center, St. Louis County, Missouri

Dametria McDile, 32, was a mother of six children, including twin sons, and her family remembers her as protective, loving and someone who enjoyed laughing and writing things down. She died on January 31, 2026, at a hospital after being found unresponsive in her cell at the St. Louis City Justice Center, where she was held pretrial, police said. Her family says she had complained of chest pains and worsening mental health and that jail staff ignored her pleas for help, and a NAACP report says video and audio show her repeatedly telling staff she could not breathe. The jail's deputy commissioner said she did not report those complaints to him, and the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Force Investigation Unit is investigating the death, with no cause yet determined.

Cause of death, as reported: Cause not yet determined (disputed; neglect alleged). Police say she had a medical emergency and the cause is still under investigation, while her family says jail staff ignored her chest pains and pleas for help, and the NAACP says video and audio show her telling staff she could not breathe.

Reported by: St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department (the agency that held her); family; St. Louis City NAACP (advocates).

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