SACRAMENTO, Calif. – In July, 39-year-old Jamie Reed was found dead in a parking structure at Kaiser South, leaving her family and community advocates bewildered as to the cause of her death. The Sacramento County Coroner’s Office classified the cause of Reed’s death as undetermined, and the police have stated that no foul play is currently suspected. Reed, a mother of six with no preexisting conditions, was a hospital employee, adding to the mystery surrounding her untimely death.
Her family and community advocate Berry Accius, founder of Voice of the Youth, have expressed frustration with the lack of urgency in solving the case. They believe that the process feels neverending, especially when it involves women of color who die under suspicious circumstances.
Accius also highlighted the presence of video surveillance in the parking structure, raising questions about why there are no answers regarding Reed’s death. The police are awaiting the coroner’s report before investigating further, and there is no indication of foul play at this time.
The coroner’s office has mentioned that the final cause and manner of Reed’s death are pending, and it can take six months or more to finalize the report. This timeline has left the family and community advocates anxious for answers, as they seek closure and justice for Reed’s death.
Data from the coroner’s office revealed that there were at least 218 deaths of undetermined cause in Sacramento County over a year, compared to 88 homicides during the same period. This disparity raises concerns about the thoroughness of investigations into deaths classified as undetermined.
The lack of public awareness about Reed’s death underscores the challenges faced in bringing attention to suspicious deaths that do not meet the criteria for press releases. The family’s persistence and the support of community advocates have been instrumental in shedding light on the case and seeking justice for Jamie Reed.