Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 11/12/03

Contact person(s):

Media Coordinator, Donna Edwards - 565-3099 Media Spokesperson, Chief Deputy Larry Scoufos Deputy District Attorney William J. Brockley

Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California

No Evidence of Criminal Wrongdoing
In Death of Inmate
Serena Roxanne Case

District Attorney Stephan Passalacqua announced that his office has completed the investigation into the death of inmate Serena Roxanne Case which occurred on January 16, 2003. Case was incarcerated in the Sonoma County Main Adult Detention Facility where she died. “The findings of this investigation revealed that there was no criminal liability on the part of any Sheriff employees”, said District Attorney Passalacqua.

The investigation commenced after the county-wide Employee Involved Fatal Incident Protocol was invoked. The Petaluma Police Department assisted the D.A.’s office in the investigation. The investigation determined that Julianna Bullock smuggled methamphetamine into to the jail after she was arrested on January 12, 2003. Bullock mixed the drug with Kool-Aide and gave the drink to Case. Case drank the mixture with the knowledge that it was laced with methamphetamine. Case was transported to Sutter Medical Facility and was pronounced dead on January 16, 2003.

An autopsy was conduct in Santa Clara County by Dr. Dianne R. Vertes, M.D., Assistant Medical Examiner-Coroner. Dr. Vertes concluded that Case’s death was “accidental” caused by “acute methamphetamine toxicity”.

Bullock was subsequently charged and convicted of involuntary manslaughter. The Honorable Robert P. Dale sentenced her to 5 years state prison .

Deputy District Attorney William J. Brockley reviewed this matter.