Grand jury to convene Nov. 9 in Estrada-Perez's death

Nov. 9 is the day a grand jury will convene in the case of a Minnesota man who allegedly attempted suicide while in custody in the Kimball County Jail and later died.

Jesus Estrada-Perez, 28, was arrested July 31 and died in early August at Regional West Medical Center in Scottsbluff. The date of his death was not given at the time it was announced, but was reported to The Observer on Aug. 7.

Estrada-Perez was traveling July 31 along Hwy. 71 with a companion, Eve Connelley, in a rental car. They pulled to the side of the road south of Kimball near the airport and Estrada-Perez exited the vehicle.

Shortly after 2 p.m., Connelley reported that Estrada-Perez had walked into a field and had not returned more than an hour and a half later. Connelley further reported that Estrada-Perez was depressed, suffered from anxiety and may have been suicidal.

A search of the area, which included Kimball County Sheriff's Office deputies and the Nebraska State Patrol, lasted until shortly after 5:30 p.m.

The suspect was found after ingesting a large amount of marijuana, according to the Kimball County Sheriff's Office communications log. He was cleared medically at Kimball Health Services and booked into the Kimball County Jail on charges of possession of hash oil.

Estrada-Perez was in possession of medication at the scene that was being checked by local pharmacist Mike Bemis, who found that the medication was what Estrada-Perez stated.

At 1:35 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 1, jailer Annette Brower performed a regular jail check to discuss Estrada-Perez's recently released medication when she found him hanging in his cell. Brower called for assistance from the Kimball County Ambulance Service, the Kimball Police Department and KCSO reserve deputy Travis Terrill. Estrada-Perez was transported to Regional West.

Estrada-Perez was joined by family as he remained on life support for several days before his death, Lt. Monica Bartling of the Nebraska State Patrol said at the time.

The Nebraska State Patrol investigated the incident, with Sergeant Monty Lovelace heading that investigation.

A grand jury must be convened when someone dies in the custody of law enforcement, according to state law. Doug Warner, assistant attorney general, is the special prosecutor in the case.