Woman jailed on Rikers Island is third inmate to die of medical emergency there this year | amNewYork

"Rajpattie Ramkellawan, 41, suffered the emergency while most recently residing at the Rose M. Singer Center on Rikers Island. Medical assistance was provided, but despite all efforts, she was pronounced dead just after 11:10 a.m. on May 18. Correction Commissioner Stanley Richards said the agency is investigating the cause and the circumstances of this tragedy. “Our hearts are heavy with the tragic loss of an individual in our care,” Richards said in a statement issued on Monday afternoon."

"As per policy, the Correction Department said it had notified the Remediation Manager, Federal Monitor, the Board of Correction, the State Attorney General's Office, the City Department of Investigation, the State Commission of Correction, the Office of Chief Medical Examiner, the Bronx and Queens District Attorneys and Ramkellawan of her death. Ramkellawan had been held in custody since her March arrest on a criminal possession of stolen property."

"According to Katherine LeGeros Bajuk, a mental health attorney for New York County Defender Services, Ramkellawan, whom the firm represented, had struggled with numerous behavioral mental health challenges throughout her life. “Above all else, Rajpattie Ramkellawan was gentle and kind. She never lost her childlike innocence despite encountering unimaginable trauma and adversity,” LeGeros Bajuk said. “Throughout her young life, she struggled to cope as many do and endured intractable behavioral health challenges.”"

"Ramkellawan is the third Rikers Island inmate to die in custody this year. Two othe"

Rajpattie Ramkellawan, 41, died in custody at Rikers Island after a reported medical emergency while she was most recently housed at the Rose M. Singer Center. Medical assistance was provided, but she was pronounced dead just after 11:10 a.m. on May 18. Correction Commissioner Stanley Richards said the Department of Correction is investigating the cause and circumstances of the death. The department reported that it notified the Remediation Manager, Federal Monitor, Board of Correction, State Attorney General’s Office, City Department of Investigation, State Commission of Correction, Office of Chief Medical Examiner, Bronx and Queens District Attorneys, and Ramkellawan. She had been held since a March arrest for criminal possession of stolen property and previously pleaded guilty to burglary after a 2023 arrest. A mental health attorney described long-standing behavioral mental health challenges and said she remained gentle and kind. She was the third inmate death in custody this year.

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