Kitsap coroner to determine cause of jail inmate death

PORT ORCHARD, Wash. (AP) — The investigation into the death last month of a Kitsap County Jail inmate accused of murder is awaiting a report from the county coroner to determine the cause of death, according to a statement from the Washington State Patrol.

The report is expected in about six to seven weeks, according to the Kitsap Sun.

Sean Michael Howell, 28, confessed on May 8 to Bremerton police detectives that he killed Sabrina Olson-Smith, 23, at his house, according to court documents. In Howell’s statement to detectives, he said he believed Olson-Smith was a demon.

The next morning, after spending the night at the jail, Howell is alleged to have been seen tampering with a sprinkler his cell.

“Corrections officers entered Howell’s cell and attempted to restrain him with the intention of moving him to a different cell,” according to Friday’s statement from the State Patrol, which is leading the multi-agency investigation into Howell’s death.

“Howell began to violently resist,” according to the statement. He was taken to Harrison Medical Center where he remained until he died May 15.

One corrections officer was injured. No officers were placed on administrative leave.