Nye County inmate who died in detention center cell identified

Wendy Washington moved to Las Vegas in April, looking for new opportunities after her 15-year-old son’s recent organ transplant. Washington’s nursing hours were severely curtailed at her former job when she was finally able to return to work after her son’s ordeal. Washington came to Workforce Connections’ One-Stop Career Center for help. (Linda Simpson/Special to View)

The Nye County Sheriff’s Office has named the inmate who died Tuesday morning.

James Duett, 38, was found unresponsive on the floor of his cell in the Nye County Detention Center at about 6:20 a.m. Tuesday, the sheriff’s office said.

Pahrump Valley Fire and Rescue responded, but Duett was pronounced dead. The statement didn’t say how long he’d been in prison or note the conviction for which he was serving time.

The inmate was housed alone in the cell, the sheriff’s office said; he neither notified staff of any health issues nor sought help. Investigators don’t suspect foul play, the sheriff’s office said.

Duett was in custody pending charges of being under the influence of a controlled substance and destruction of jail property, and pending court appearances in the Fifth Judicial District Court and Pahrump Justice Court.

The Clark County coroner’s office will release his cause and manner of death once the autopsy has been completed.

Contact Jessica Terrones at jterrones@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0381. Find @JessATerrones on Twitter.