Coroner rules cause and manner of McHenry County jail inmate’s July death ‘undetermined’

The McHenry County coroner has ruled the July death of a county jail inmate to be “undetermined.”

Colton Sabo, 31, of Poplar Grove, was found unresponsive in his jail cell July 28, 2023. He was transported to a nearby hospital, but died the next day, a news release from Coroner Michael Rein stated Friday.

An initial autopsy was performed July 31, but a cause of death could not be immediately determined. Toxicology tests were ordered and months later the results did not provide any additional conclusions, Rein’s release stated.

Rein’s release noted that while Sabo had been diagnosed with an anoxic brain injury and cerebral edema, they were “determined to have no significant cause” to Sabo’s death.

Rein also reported that Sabo had a history of “seizure disorder and polysubstance abuse.”

Sabo’s death came under scrutiny after the sheriff’s office, which oversees jail operations, initially refused to identify the inmate who had died in custody, but only relented after multiple media inquiries.

Sabo’s death is one of four inmate deaths at the jail in the past six months.

McHenry County Sheriff Robb Tadelman said his office has been "fully transparent" and has handled the cases in compliance with policies and state laws.

– Shaw Local Media Group contributed to this report.