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Newton inmate dies after suicide attempt
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An 18-year-old Porterdale man died Thursday after allegedly attempting suicide while he was being held in the Newton County Detention Center.

The man allegedly used a sheet to hang himself from the top bunk in his cell around 1:15 a.m. Wednesday, according to a report from the Newton County Sheriff’s Office, and when the detention officer on duty noticed the situation, he cut the inmate down from the bunk and began performing CPR, sheriff’s Deputy Cortney Morrison said Thursday.

The inmate was transported to Newton Medical Center via ambulance Wednesday and was treated and placed on life support before being declared dead Thursday morning, Morrison said.

Morrison said the Sheriff’s Office notified the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, which will do an independent investigation. The Sheriff’s Office will also perform its own internal investigation to make sure no policies or procedures were violated, Morrison said.

The man was originally booked into jail Dec. 3 for driving without a license, possession of marijuana, and two counts of burglary. Morrison said the man had not yet been sentenced, so it’s unclear how long he would have to serve in jail.

The News does not traditionally release names of suicide victims out of respect for the families.