WYANDOTTE COUNTY – The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) shared an update on the July 5th death of Charles Adair at the Wyandotte County Detention Center.
In the final autopsy report, the coroner ruled Adair's cause of death as complications of mechanical asphyxia. Contributory factors were noted as hypertensive cardiovascular disease and hepatic cirrhosis due to chronic alcoholism. Adair's manner of death was determined to be homicide.
At approximately 8:30 p.m. on July 5, Charles L. Adair, 50, of Kansas City, Kansas, received medical care in the detention center’s infirmary for a pre-existing wound on his leg.
Preliminary information indicates that when personnel attempted to transfer him back to his cell, Adair caused a disturbance by yelling, refusing to listen to commands, and physically resisting. Multiple sheriff’s deputies responded and handcuffed Adair to gain compliance. They transported him to his cell, where several deputies placed him on the lower bunk. They began attempting to remove the handcuffs, while Adair continued to resist. They gained control, removed the cuffs, and left the cell.
Immediately after, at 8:37 p.m., medical staff were called to evaluate Adair who they found him unresponsive. Life-saving measures were initiated. EMS responded to the facility and continued medical intervention. Despite efforts, Adair was pronounced dead at 9:19 p.m.
This week the KBI concluded its investigation and presented findings to the Wyandotte County District Attorney's Office.