A female inmate hanged herself in the downtown jail around 8:40 Thursday morning. Forty-four year old Karen Michelle Gow of Harriman was transported to Fort Sanders Hospital where she was pronounced dead about an hour later. The medical examiner will conduct an autopsy. Gow was booked into the jail on October 16th for violation of probation on a worthless check charge, failure to appear on theft charges, and also escape for walking out of a courtroom.

Gow’s evaluation upon entering jail did not indicate any suicidal tendencies. A corrections officer found her on regular rounds and immediately began CPR after calling for assistance. Gow used a bed sheet thrown over a towel rack to hang herself. Gow left suicide notes. Major Crimes and the Office of Professional Standards are investigating.