Colorado inmate accused of killing 9-year-old during attempted sex assault found unresponsive, dies

Jeffrey Beagley, 34, of Grand Junction, died at a hospital Monday afternoon, just hours after jail workers found him unconscious, the Mesa County Sheriff's Office said.

Credit: Grand Junction Police Department

Credit: Grand Junction Police Department

Jeffrey Beagley, 34, of Grand Junction, died at a hospital Monday afternoon, just hours after jail workers found him unconscious, the Mesa County Sheriff's Office said.

A Colorado inmate who died last week after authorities discovered him unresponsive in his cell had been accused of killing a girl during an attempted sexual assault, officials said.

According to KUSA-TV, Jeffrey Beagley, 34, of Grand Junction, died at a hospital Monday afternoon, just hours after jail workers found him unconscious, the Mesa County Sheriff's Office said.

Officials said Beagley had been facing murder and child sex charges after a 9-year-old girl died from chloroform poisoning in November, according to the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel. Investigators believe that Beagley was trying to sexually assault the girl at the time, KUSA reported.

The Sheriff's Office said in a news release that officials are still trying to determine Beagley's cause of death.

"There does not appear to be anything suspicious at this time, and toxicology is pending," the release said.

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