Erie inmate died of natural causes

SANDUSKY -- The death of an inmate Tuesday who was being held at the Erie County jail was apparently from natural causes, authorities said Thursday.

Preliminary autopsy results indicate that Robert C. Baswell, Jr., 47, of Vermilion, Ohio, died from a blood clot, said Capt. Todd Dempsey, the jail administrator.

Baswell, who had a record of health problems, was pronounced dead Tuesday morning at Firelands Regional Medical Center, according to the Erie County Sheriff's Office. The autopsy was done Wednesday night by the county coroner's office, Captain Dempsey said. The final ruling was pending toxicology tests.

The inmate was lying on a bed in his cell about 2:15 a.m. when he was found unresponsive and was rushed to the hospital. He had been in the jail since Oct. 17; his charges included robbery, theft, and possession of criminal tools, the captain said.