LOUISIANA — The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office is investigating the death of an inmate who was found unresponsive Wednesday afternoon inside the parish jail.
According to deputies, 55-year-old Eugene Hickerson was discovered unresponsive in his assigned dorm around 3 p.m. Staff attempted life-saving measures, but Hickerson was later pronounced dead. He had been held at the facility since October on charges of simple burglary and a Department of Corrections parole violation.
Following Hickerson’s death — and a separate, unrelated minor medical emergency involving another inmate — officials conducted a contraband sweep of both dorms. No illegal narcotics were found.
Sheriff’s officials said the circumstances surrounding the death remain under investigation, and an autopsy will be performed to determine the cause. A spokesperson noted that Hickerson’s death appears to be medically related and that he had suffered a heart attack in 2024.
