The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has released new details about the deaths of two inmates at the White County Detention Center.
The Cleveland man and Gainesville woman died nine months apart in 2020 and 2021.
Mercedes Brackett
Date of death: August 7, 2020
According to the autopsy report, Mercedes Brittany Brackett had a ruptured spleen and died from a severe staph infection. The medical examiner listed her official cause of death as “staphylococcal sepsis with splenic rupture and peritonitis.”
Although Brackett exhibited signs of blunt force trauma to her torso, arms, and legs, the medical examiner (ME) was unable to determine how her spleen ruptured. He listed her manner of death as “undetermined.”
White County deputies arrested Brackett on August 5, 2020, for a probation violation. Around 8:30 a.m. on August 7, a jail nurse reportedly found the 28-year-old unresponsive in a cell. Efforts to resuscitate her failed. The White County coroner pronounced Brackett dead at the scene.
“Ms. Brackett was reportedly last known alive approximately 40 minutes prior to her unresponsive discovery when she appeared to be lethargic,” the report states.
Jail intake records indicate Brackett was medically evaluated during booking. At the time, she complained of various illnesses and injuries and reported using heroin, the report states.
Joe Sertain
Date of death: May 25, 2021
Nine months after Brackett died, another inmate passed away at the White County Detention Center. 38-year-old Joe Sertain of Cleveland died on May 25, 2021. The state medical examiner’s office has ruled his death accidental.
The day before he died, White County deputies arrested Sertain and another Cleveland man for outstanding warrants and drug charges during a traffic stop. The sheriff’s office reported that within hours of his arrest, Sertain suffered a “medical emergency.” Officials transported him to Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville for treatment.
The medical examiner’s report says Sertain reportedly swallowed a bag of methamphetamine shortly before his arrest. While being booked into jail, he became unresponsive.
From the autopsy results, the medical examiner determined Sertain died of acute meth toxicity.
Results still pending in McLeroy death
Results are still pending in the jail death investigation of 54-year-old Charles Anthony McLeroy. Jailers found the Athens man dead in his cell early on the morning of August 24, 2023.
Jail records show deputies arrested McLeroy on August 22 on a probation warrant. According to the GBI, he was housed in a cell by himself.
The investigation into his death is ongoing.
