Woman found dead, hanging by jail shirt

BALDWIN CO., Ala. - The Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the apparent suicide of 31-year-old Monika Romanowska Watts of Gulf Shores. Around 4:27 a.m., Mrs. Watts was arrested for misdemeanor harassment by the Orange Beach Police Department and transported to the Orange Beach Police Department.

Watts was placed in a holding cell at 4:55 a.m. while awaiting booking. She was given a jail shirt, and 23 minutes later the Corrections Officer went to get Watts to process her. He found her with the shirt tied around the sink bar and her neck. She was in a seated position with her buttocks four to six inches off of the floor. Orange Beach Corrections Officers attempted to resuscitate her with no success.

The Orange Beach Police Department called the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office to investigate the in-custody death. Preliminary investigation has revealed that this appears to be a suicide.

The investigation has revealed no wrong doing on behalf of the Orange Beach Police Department.

Watts’ body was transported to Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences for autopsy. Alcohol is believed to be a factor.