James Rathmann
James Rathmann, 30, of Ballwin, died on January 2, 2020, while held in a cell at the Ballwin Police Department. Police said officers monitored the cell by camera, but it was about 5:13 a.m. when a dispatcher noticed he had not moved for some time. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The autopsy found no trauma that would explain his death, and St. Louis County Police said the cause is undetermined but believed to be drug or medically related. The Ballwin Police Department asked the county to investigate the death as a suspicious death in custody.
Cause of death, as reported: Cause not yet determined. St. Louis County Police said the autopsy found no trauma, the cause remains undetermined, and it is believed to be drug or medically related.
Reported by: St. Louis County Police Department (outside investigators); autopsy.