BEND, OR -- The Deschutes County District Attorney has completed his investigation into last month's death of an inmate found in his cell. D.A. John Hummel praised investigators who spent more than a hundred hours interviewing dozens of people in connection with the death of Eben Kaneshiro.
Based on the evidence, Hummel determined the cause of death to be suicide by hanging. Kaneshiro was discovered unresponsive at the Deschutes County jail early in the morning, April 26. At a press conference shortly after the incident, Hummel said the death was difficult for deputies. "Corrections deputies and the crew from Bend Fire and EMS made heroic efforts to save Mr. Kaneshiro’s life. I watched the video tape. I saw a rapid, focused response from the on-duty team, and I also saw a look on their faces that revealed the pain they were experiencing."
Kaneshiro was facing a number of charges relating to child sex abuse. This was the second death of a Deschutes County Jail inmate in less than six months.
