Pregnant Mother Dies While Awaiting Trial in a Jail Cell

Madison County, MS — Lanekia Michelle Brown, a 37-year old woman who was 3 to 4 weeks pregnant, died in jail after complaining about intense stomach pains. Her family feels that her death was very suspicious, and are demanding more information from local officials.

Brown was being held at the Madison County Detention while awaiting for trial on charges of trafficking of a controlled substance. She was arrested with an acquaintance in November after being found with 103 pounds of marijuana in their car during a traffic stop.

On Sunday, Margaret Johnson, Brown’s mother had been informed by a Mississippi Highway Patrol Officer who came to her house that her daughter died. She wasn’t given any more details except that her daughter complained of stomach pain but when a nurse arrived, she was already unresponsive.

“They did CPR on her over and over… still didn’t get no response… So he just said she was gone,” Johnson told WJTV.

Brown’s family went to Madison County from Granada to see her, but they were disappointed that they weren’t allowed to immediately identify her body or even get more information.

“I need to know what happened to her… where she at. They won’t tell me or give me no information. That’s my child. I love my child… I want to know where my child is,” Johnson said.

Besides her pregnancy, her family stated Brown had no other health problems which make them suspicious of what really caused her death. They were thinking there is a probable foul play.

“It’s very suspicious because like I said we talked to her and she was okay. If she had any kind of problems, she would have let us know,” Lavell, another family member said.

Brown left behind two children and she was pregnant with her third child.

Meanwhile, the Mississippi Bureau of Investigations will be reviewing the case and the Madison County coroner will conduct an autopsy.

Watch the local news coverage: