Vernon Hills woman dies after going on hunger strike while in jail

An immigrant from India who had lived in Vernon Hills and went on a hunger strike during her incarceration at the Lake County jail apparently starved to death.

An autopsy Wednesday showed that Lyvita P. Gomes, 52, died of dehydration and malnutrition, Lake County Coroner Artis Yancey said Saturday.

There was no evidence of drugs or alcohol, no bruises or other signs of trauma, and no indications of diseases or other health problems, Yancey added.

Gomes died Tuesday at Vista Medical Center East in Waukegan.

The Lake County News-Sun reported that Gomes had been living at a Vernon Hills hotel when she was charged with contempt and resisting arrest in October.

The report said she was picked up again on Dec. 14 and taken to the Lake County jail in Waukegan, where she was held on orders from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. She soon declared her hunger strike and was transferred to the medical center on Dec. 29, the story said.