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Woman found dead in jail cell

STEUBENVILLE — A 25-year-old Wellsburg woman was found dead in her Jefferson County jail cell Friday night.

Jefferson County Sheriff Fred Abdalla said Monday morning that Valerie Williams had been arrested one week ago by city police on traffic violations, drug charges and bench warrant charges and transported to the county jail.

According to Steubenville Police Chief Bill McCafferty, Williams had been charged by police with two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a drug abuse instrument, two counts of possession of drugs as well as operating a defective motor vehicle and driving under a suspended license.

“She was immediately placed in detox because we found a hypodermic needle, crack pipe, cocaine and heroin on her when she was brought in,” Abdalla said, adding that Williams took her detox medicine every day. “She was up and around Friday and again took her medicine and then came out to receive her new uniform. After that she went back into her cell and laid down. Her cellmate found her at about 10 p.m. Friday and notified the jailer.

“I called Jefferson County Coroner Dr. Michael Scarpone to the jail and the body was transported to the morgue where blood tests will be performed to determine the cause of death.

“This is a very sad situation with a young woman dead. The investigation will continue and we will find out what caused her death.”

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