Family seeks answers in mysterious in-custody death of Clara Palmer at Cobb County Jail

Family of Cobb County inmate who died want answers

The family of Clara Palmer, who died while in custody at the Cobb County Jail just days before Christmas, want to know how it happened given she was under supervision. The Cobb County Sheriff’s Office has not released the cause of her death and says it’s under investigation.

COBB COUNTY, Ga. - The family of Clara Palmer is demanding answers about her in-custody death at the Cobb County jail.

"It's just a shame that we'll be laying our sister to rest before we even know what happened to her," said Palmer’s sister Amanda Chastain.

She and her other sister Candice Sertain want to know exactly how their younger sister, 39-year-old Clara Palmer died while in custody at the Cobb County Jail.

"It's under investigation, but we, as a family, we need some kind of answers," Sertain said.

Cobb County Jail death

The Cobb County Sheriff’s Office says deputies found Palmer unresponsive in her cell on Dec. 21. She was taken to Wellstar Kennestone Hospital but was pronounced dead there.

Clara Palmer and family (Family photo)

Chastain says the sheriff’s office did call her, but she missed the call, and they didn’t leave a voicemail.

Sertain says a deputy did show up to her house to inform her but more than 24 hours after it happened.

So, her family didn’t find out until a day later and they feel they could’ve at least seen her at the hospital.

"Had I known and they had left a message, we would have been able to say goodbye to our sister," Chastain said.

The sheriff’s office has not released a cause of death, but in the release about her death they urged those struggling with suicidal ideation to seek help.

Struggles with mental illness

Chastain says her sister has struggled with her mental health for years.

"As she got older, she got with the wrong people, the wrong crowd, drugs. She couldn’t find the right help. It was way later before she was diagnosed with bipolar, schizophrenic," Chastain said.

They don’t understand how she was able to die while in custody and under surveillance.

Clara Palmer (Family photo)

"That's ridiculous. We thought she would be safer in there than anywhere, guarded. And something like this can happen," Sertain said.

"I was devastated and in disbelief. I mean, she had been in and out of many places and been fine. We thought she would be fine," Chastain said.

The Cobb County Sheriff’s Office declined our request for an interview.

Who was Clara Palmer?

Chastain and Sertain want people to remember Palmer not as an inmate, but as a cherished family member and friend to many.

"That she was loyal. And a little firecracker, she was just a big bundle of sparks, whether it be in brightly colored clothes or drawing or helping someone else, reading her bible, trying to know God."

"She loved people, she loved babies. She loved family. She was an artist. She could draw anything. She was loyal, she wouldn't snitch on anyone for nothing. If she loved you. She loved you forever," Chastain said.