McKenna Marshall of Concord died at Concord Hospital after being found unresponsive in a cell at the Merrimack County House of Corrections in Boscawen, county officials announced.

Merrimack County Sheriff’s Office and corrections officials are investigating the cause of Marshall’s sudden death. The investigation will include a review of all documentation from the time of booking, including medical and mental health intakes, said Cushman. 

“While conducting regular rounds on Monday, January 1, 2024, the corrections officer assigned to Marshall’s unit found them unresponsive in the cell,” according to jail Superintendent Travis Cushman. “Merrimack corrections officers and medical staff immediately administered emergency aid.”

Marshall was transported to Concord Hospital and later died, Cushman said.

Marshall was known by friends as Kenny and identified as male. Marshall is identified in court records as female at birth but was housed in a male unit at the jail, according to public records and corrections officials.   

Court documents show Marshall was committed to the jail by a judge on Nov. 28, 2023 after Concord’s city prosecutor sought to impose a suspended sentence from January. Marshall was scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday, Jan. 3, for a hearing to impose the earlier sentence of up to a year in jail.

With the investigation pending, Cushman could not release further details. However, no evidence suggests foul play, he said.

Cushman expressed condolences to Marshall’s family.

“Our goal is to provide every person residing in the Department of Corrections with a safe and secure environment,” Cushman said in a statement. “The staff take their responsibilities very seriously. It is tragic whenever a situation like this occurs.”

Editor’s note: This s tory was changed to clarif y that “dual-status detainee,” does not refer to a prisoner’s gender.