State Investigators and Jury Finds Alberty Death Self-Inflicted

Posted on Monday, November 2, 2009

Christopher Alberty 20, of Madison was arrested on Oct. 15th on charges of first-degree burglary and aggravated assault. He died on Oct. 18 while incarcerated at the Lake County Jail in Madison.

Alberty died of a self-inflicted hanging that caused asphyxiation during an incident that occurred on Oct. 18 at the Lake County Correctional Center. A three-person jury announced their findings after reviewing evidence and hearing testimony that indicated Alberty had committed suicide during the early evening hours of Oct. 18th in his cell at the county jail.

A coroner's inquest had been called for by Ted Weiland, Lake County coroner. A coroner's inquest is typically held when an inmate dies while held in a local or state correctional facility.

The jurors heard testimony from Dr. Brad Randall, a Sioux Falls pathologist who performed the autopsy; Chief Deputy Tim Walburg; Sheriff Roger Hartman; Special Agent Nate Leuning of the state Division of Criminal Investigation; and other local law enforcement officers. An inmate who was held in the same area of the jail as Alberty as well as the correctional officer who was on duty also gave testimony.

The coroner's inquest started at 2 p.m. in the courtroom at the Lake County Courthouse. State's Attorney Ken Meyer presented the evidence related to the case and questioned the persons who gave testimony. The jurors also had the opportunity to question the witnesses.