Bland's autopsy consistent with suicide
July 23, 2015
An autopsy of 28-year-old Sandra Bland, who was found hanging in her jail cell on July 13, is reported to be inconsistent with a violent homicide.
Waller Country prosecutor Warren Diepraam said on Thursday that the autopsy shows consistent injuries with a suicide.
The prosecutor said that some lacerations or abrasions were discovered on her wrists, though they are consistent with injuries of a struggle while being handcuffed.
Diepraam added that there were no defensive injuries on her hands that would indicate a struggle and that the marks around her neck follow those of a suicide by hanging.
Bland's case drew significant attention after the black woman was arrested for assaulting a police officer, who pulled her over for allegedly changing lanes without signaling.
A video released of the incident, released by the Texas Department of Public Safety, shows police officer Brian Encinia drawing a stun gun on the young woman for allegedly not obeying orders to put out a cigarette.
He then shouts, "I will light you up," after which he proceeds to drag her out of the vehicle.
Texas state senator Royce West said on Tuesday after seeing the video that Bland should not have been arrested.
"After you see that video, I think you will agree with me that Sandra Bland did not deserve to be arrested," West told reporters after meeting with Bland's family.
The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Texas Rangers are investigating the incident.
ls/bw (AP, Reuters)