The King County Medical Examiner’s Office has identified the woman found deceased at the Kent Corrections Facility, but the cause and manner of her death are still under investigation.
Rena Rae Flaherty, 45, was discovered unresponsive in a holding cell at approximately 8:05 a.m. on Tuesday, April 22, by a corrections officer, according to the Kent Police Department and the Medical Examiner’s Office. As of April 24, the cause and manner of death remain pending, with the Medical Examiner’s Office indicating that more information will be released once the investigation is complete.
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Flaherty had been incarcerated at the facility since April 19, as confirmed by police.
In light of the situation, the Kent Police Department has asked the Valley Independent Investigative Team to take over the investigation, given that corrections officers are part of the police department. The Auburn Police Department is overseeing the probe, but as of now, no additional updates have been provided.
The Kent city jail, located at 1230 Central Ave. S., has been in operation since 1986. It primarily houses individuals arrested for misdemeanor offenses such as driving under the influence, minor assaults, petty theft, and domestic violence, as well as those sentenced to less than a year by the Kent Municipal Court. More serious felony cases are managed at the Maleng Regional Justice Center or the King County Jail in Seattle.
The investigation into Flaherty’s death is ongoing, and authorities are working to determine the circumstances surrounding her passing.
