Samuel Yenawine
Samuel Yenawine, 38, was held at the Georgetown County Detention Center in South Carolina, where he was found unresponsive and taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead on December 6, 2016. The Georgetown County Coroner's Office said an autopsy showed he died by hanging and that he took his own life. His attorney, who had known him for about a dozen years and described him as always stoic, disputes that the autopsy was complete, plans to hire a pathologist, and says Yenawine had reported an anonymous account of mistreatment after a cigarette was found in his cell. The State Law Enforcement Division is investigating the death.
Cause of death, as reported: Died by suicide (disputed). The Georgetown County Coroner's Office says an autopsy confirmed he died by hanging and took his own life, while his attorney disputes the completeness of that conclusion, plans to hire a pathologist, and calls for an independent review.
Reported by: Georgetown County Coroner's Office (medical examiner or coroner); his attorney; State Law Enforcement Division (outside investigators).