Meth overdose blamed in jail inmate’s death

EVERETT — An inmate found dead at the Snohomish County Jail in February overdosed on methamphetamine, officials said Friday.

Leon Benjamin Moore, 41, of Snohomish, was booked into the jail Feb. 26. He had been arrested by Everett police on a warrant for driving under the influence.

Moore was found dead in the jail about 10:30 a.m. Feb. 28.

The Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office and the Snohomish County Medical Examiner’s Office have been investigating. The medical examiner recently ruled the death an accident, a typical finding in deaths from drug and alcohol overdoses.

Sheriff’s Major Crimes Unit detectives are awaiting additional autopsy results, spokeswoman Shari Ireton said Friday. No drugs were found in the area where Moore was being kept, or in his personal belongings.

An internal investigation is planned at the jail after the death investigation is done, Ireton said.

“We can’t determine at this time whether this case will go to the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for review,” she said.

At least six other inmates have died at the jail since 2010.

In March, an Everett attorney filed a $10 million wrongful death claim filed against Snohomish County and the cities of Everett and Des Moines. The damage claim was filed on behalf of the estate of Lyndsey Lason, 27. The Everett woman died in the jail in 2011 from a pulmonary infection after reportedly trying to get medical attention.

The family of Michael Saffioti, 22, who died in the jail in 2012 from bronchial asthma triggered by severe allergies, is convinced his death could have been prevented. The Mukilteo family has hired a Seattle attorney to press for answers.

In addition, county prosecutors still are reviewing at least one 2012 death at the jail.

Rikki King: 425-339-3449; rking@heraldnet.com