Portia Tempest
Portia Tempest, 37, died in May 2025 after being held at the DeSoto County jail in Hernando, Mississippi. The sheriff's office describes her death as a critical medical emergency in a medical holding cell, and paramedics took her to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead. The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation was notified under its standard procedure for in-custody deaths and is conducting an independent review. The cause and manner of death remain pending.
Cause of death, as reported: Cause not yet determined. The DeSoto County Sheriff's Office says she suffered a critical medical emergency, staff gave life-saving measures, and the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation is conducting an independent review.
Reported by: DeSoto County Sheriff's Office (the agency that held her); Mississippi Bureau of Investigation (outside investigators); TVMO News Network (reporters).