TBI called in on death at jail

Formality: DA asks for Bureau to handle investigation

January 23, 2019 by Crystal Huskey

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is investigating an apparent hanging death of an inmate at the Anderson County jail.

TBI spokesperson Leslie Earhart told The Courier News by email that Michael Allen Matlock, 24, was found unresponsive in his jail cell on Jan. 9.

The investigation is at the request of 7th District Attorney General Dave Clark.

Preliminary information indicates that the incident does not involve foul play, according to the TBI. The investigation remains active and ongoing, however.

Asking an outside agency to investigate is a matter of protocol.

Anderson County Sheriff’s Office records indicate Matlock was in jail on a “hold for criminal court.”

He was taken into custody on Jan. 4, 2019.

There is no indication what the hold was for.