Autopsy set Monday for Benton County jail inmate

An autopsy is planned Monday on a Benton County jail inmate who died after using heroin smuggled into the jail.

Edward Christian Engel, 42, appeared to be sick Thursday evening and jail medical staff found that his blood pressure was abnormally low, the Benton County Sheriff’s Office reported.

He was taken by ambulance to Trios Southridge Hospital.

He told medical staff that he’d used heroin several days earlier, getting it from another inmate who’d smuggled it in, the sheriff’s office said.

He had blood clots and other medical complications, presumably caused by the heroin, and doctors were not able to stabilize him, the sheriff’s office said.

He died Friday.

The sheriff’s office continues to investigate the events leading to his death.

His name was spelled as “Engle” by the sheriff’s office, but “Engel” in official court records.

This story was originally published November 12, 2016 at 5:37 PM with the headline "Autopsy set Monday for Benton County jail inmate."