Alabama inmate dies by suicide in custody, Muscle Shoals officials say

Alabama inmate dies by suicide in custody, Muscle Shoals officials say

An Alabama jail inmate allegedly has died by suicide while in custody, according to officials.

Matthew Todd Robbins, 37, of Tuscumbia was discovered unresponsive in his cell at Muscle Shoals Jail Saturday, according to Police Chief Clint Reck.

Robbins was taken into custody Friday night by the department for a violation of a protection from abuse order, as well as resisting arrest.

According to Reck, officers found Robbins while doing routine checks at the jail.

Upon an initial investigation, officials say Robbins died by asphyxiation. According to Reck, Robbins was being held in a cell alone at the time of his death.

Though officials attempted to resuscitate him, Robbins was eventually taken to an area hospital, where the Colbert County Coroner’s Office later pronounced him dead.

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency was bought in for further investigation of the incident.

If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, reach out to the 24–hour National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255; contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741; or chat with someone online at suicidepreventionlifeline.org.

The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available 24 hours.