County inmate's death under investigation; first death in the new Hall County Jail

The death of a Hall County inmate is under investigation by area law enforcement agencies, with a special prosecutor scheduled to be named in the case.

Jeffrey Todd Hansen, 42, died at approximately 12:58 p.m. Monday at St. Francis Medical Center after being transported from the Hall County Jail Sunday evening.

Hansen's death was announced via a written press release issued by Chief Deputy Hall County Attorney Michelle J. Oldham.

The written press release did not say how Hansen received the injuries that led to his death. On Monday morning, The Independent called the Hall County attorney's office to ask for a statement on whether Hansen's injuries were self-inflicted. At that time, Oldham only would say that an inmate had been transferred to St. Francis Medical Center.

She said an investigation was under way and that it might be Monday afternoon before she would be ready to issue a statement.

Hansen's death is the first in the new Hall County Jail. The first inmates were transferred from the old jail into the new jail on July 14 and 15.

The written statement said that Hansen was in jail pending a preliminary hearing on theft by unlawful taking. It did not list an address for Hansen.

It said his death is being investigated by South Central Law Enforcement (SCALES), a cooperative alliance that includes the Hall County Sheriff's Department, Grand Island Police Department, Nebraska State Patrol, Buffalo County Sheriff's Department, Kearney Police Department, Adams County Sheriff's Department, Hastings Police Department, Phelps County Sheriff's Department, Holdrege Police Department and Dawson County Sheriff's Department.

In the written statement, Oldham said an autopsy had been ordered and that she would request that a special prosecutor be appointed as required by Nebraska law to lead an investigation of the death.

She said the Hall County attorney's office would identify the special prosecutor when the appointment is made by district court.

The written statement issued late Monday afternoon said that Oldham would have no further comment.

A check of Independent files indicated that the last death in the Hall County Jail may have been in October 2000, when an Indiana 17-year-old named Joshua Treichler committed suicide by hanging himself.