Joey Thomas Reach
Joey Thomas Reach, 57, was held at the Jefferson County Jail in Alabama when he was found in his private cell during a welfare check on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, and was pronounced dead less than an hour later. The Jefferson County Coroner's Office said there was no evidence of foul play at that time and that an autopsy would determine the cause of death. Reach had been held at the jail since July 6, according to WBMA. Some reports place the death at the Bessemer jail while others name the Jefferson County Jail-Bessemer Division, and the cause of death has not yet been established.
Cause of death, as reported: Cause not yet determined. The Jefferson County Coroner's Office has not determined a cause; an autopsy was pending and investigators saw no evidence of foul play at that time.
Reported by: Jefferson County Coroner's Office (medical examiner or coroner); Jefferson County Sheriff's Office (the agency that held him).