The Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the death of an adult in custody at the Multnomah County Inverness Jail.

On May 1, 2025, at approximately 8:00 a.m., an adult in custody was discovered unresponsive in their bunk at the Multnomah County Inverness Jail. Life-saving measures were administered by corrections deputies and corrections health personnel. Paramedics subsequently arrived and continued advanced medical intervention. Despite these efforts, the adult in custody was pronounced deceased by the responding paramedics.

In accordance with standard protocol, the East County Major Crimes Team was activated to initiate a death investigation. The death investigation is being completed in conjunction with the Multnomah County Medical Examiner’s Office. The Medical Examiner’s Office will determine the cause and manner of death.

The deceased adult in custody has been identified as 49-year-old Sharon Lee Watkins. She was booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center on April 28, 2025. 

No further comment will made at this time.

The East County Major Crimes Team includes detectives from the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office Detective Unit, Port of Portland Police Department, Gresham Police Department and Oregon State Police.