UPDATE:  September 25, 2013

     The Sheriff’s Office has received a report from the Arkansas State Medical Examiner’s Office in Little Rock identifying the cause and manner of death of former county jail inmate THOMAS LEE SELF, who was found deceased in his holding cell on May 31, 2013. 

     According to the pathologist report, THOMAS LEE SELF was found to have seven (7) different kinds of controlled substances in his system. HIs death was determined to be caused by accidental mixed drug intoxication.

     The in custody death is being investigated by the Arkansas State Police.

Original Release:  May 31, 2013

     A Baxter County Jail Inmate was found deceased in his holding cell this morning by jail staff.  The inmate is identified as 36 year old THOMAS LEE SELF, believed to be a resident of Gassville.

     THOMAS SELF was arrested Thursday evening, May 30^th, by an officer with the Gassville Police Department.  He was booked into the Detention Center at approximately 10:30 PM on two Gassville misdemeanor charges.  He was also found to have outstanding warrants from other agencies.

     Jail staff observed THOMAS SELF at various times this morning in his holding cell, which he shared with one other inmate.  He was found unresponsive lying on his mat in his cell at approximately 9:15 this morning.  Emergency medical personnel were summoned to the jail, but SELF was found to be deceased.  The Baxter County Coroner’s Office was later summoned to the jail to take possession of the body.  The Department of the Arkansas State Police was called to conduct the investigation.  The decedent is being sent to the Arkansas State Medical Examiner’s Office in Little Rock for autopsy to determine the cause and manner of death.  Additional details will be released once that process has been completed.

/s/ John F. Montgomery,
Baxter County Sheriff