TBI Investigation Reveals that Inmate Committed Suicide Using Toilet Paper that Caused Intentional Asphyxiation
An inmate in custody in the new Loudon County Jail was discovered Tuesday evening (November 17th at approximately 7:20 am) sitting slumped over on a toilet and unconscious by fellow inmates who immediately began chest compressions and called for the help of corrections officers. EMS responders arrived and began to intubate the unconscious inmate and discovered airways (mouth and throat) blocked by toilet paper which they tried to remove with forceps. There was also a string, apparently from part of a blanket, around his neck, but not tied off to anything. EMS tried, unsuccessfully, to revive the inmate who was Joseph Marbry of Knoxville, Tennessee. Marbry was taken to the Ft. Loudoun Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.

As I do with all ‘in custody’ deaths I contacted the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and two agents were sent over to review all video and to take witness statements from inmates, corrections officers and EMS personnel, as well as to review all jail calls to and from the subject inmate. The deceased was sent to the Knox County Regional Forensics Center for an autopsy.

A summary of the findings of the TBI investigation reveal that Marbry was arrested on November 6, 2020 for theft and criminal impersonation. He had been in custody at the Loudon County Jail since his arrest and had not been able to make bond as there was a ‘hold’ on him from Knox County for warrants on multiple cases. The fellow inmate statements and a review of the jail calls confirms that he had several phone calls with his mother and his girlfriend. There were some arguments with the girlfriend and an apparent plan to have drugs brought into him through personal clothing by the girlfriend. It is not clear at this point in the investigation whether this was successful or not. Based on the inmate statements, and confirmed by a review of the video, Marbry went to the area of the toilets where he pulled a screen or opaque curtain across the area to shield him from view of the camera. On video he is not seen leaving and no one else is seen entering the area until after approximately 15 minutes. At this point other inmates evidently notice his hands near or on the ground as if he is slumped down and they go to his aid as described hereinabove.

The conclusion is, as confirmed by the preliminary autopsy, that Marbry stuffed small pieces of toilet paper into his nostrils and larger pieces or chunks of toilet paper down his throat and into his mouth in order to asphyxiate himself in a successful suicide attempt. He also tied string or twisted a string around his neck. The only trauma to his body were fractures to his ribs consistent with the resuscitative efforts of the fellow inmates and a bruise to the posterior of his right shoulder from where he was pulled off of the toilet, according to Dr. William Oliver the medical examiner who performed the autopsy. The petechiae around his eyes and the cerebral and pulmonary edema noted in the preliminary autopsy report were probable results of asphyxiation, according to Dr. Oliver, but the diagnosis of asphyxiation is ‘not exclusive’ of other factors because both the histology and toxicology results are still pending.

The next of kin: mother, estranged wife and girlfriend were notified after his death on Tuesday. Marbry also has a eighteen year old son.

NOTE: Since we cannot rule out illegal drugs possibly smuggled into the jail by Marbry or other inmates, Dr. Oliver will wait to make a final determination about the death upon reviewing the toxicology and histology reports when they are completed. Also, during this pandemic there have been many jokes and off-color comments about the restrictions on TP purchases, the lack and use thereof, etc. There have already been comments and conspiracy theories posted about this inmate’s death. While I found the circumstances of this event to be novel, I understand from talking with Roane County Sheriff Jack Stockton that they had an inmate several months ago try to take his own life in the same manner. Fortunately, a corrections officer was able to intervene in time and save that inmate’s life.

Please keep the commentary along the line of sympathy for anyone that contemplates, attempts and/or commits suicide. Please respect the family of this inmate.