Woman dies in custody

The Montana Criminal Investigation Bureau is investigating the death of a Kalispell woman who died in jail on Thursday morning.

According to the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office, Iberica Paulino, 29, was found not breathing and without a pulse at around 7:30 a.m.

Paramedics unsuccessfully performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation.  

She was the sole occupant of a medical isolation cell at the Flathead County Detention Center. She had been jailed on a charge of criminal possession of dangerous drugs.

A coroner responded from Sanders County.

The Montana State Crime Lab in Missoula will perform an autopsy on Paulino to determine cause of death.

Flathead County Sheriff Chuck Curry said Thursday that the woman’s death was most likely due to natural causes.