Officials have yet to identify the Sarnia Jail inmate who died last week while in custody, but court records show it was Cody David Cook, a 33-year-old Sarnia carpenter and father of a two-year-old boy who was only arrested three days before he died.

Officials have yet to identify the Sarnia Jail inmate who died last week while in custody, but court records show it was Cody David Cook, a 33-year-old Sarnia carpenter and father of a two-year-old boy who was only arrested three days before he died.

Few details surrounding Cook’s death have been released amid an investigation by Ontario’s chief coroner’s office other than he was found in medical distress by jail staff on Labour Day and rushed to hospital, where he died. He leaves behind his partner, her two children, “who Cody adored as his own,” and his two-year-old son, “the love of his life,” according to his obituary.

A talented bowler and hockey player who worked for the United Brotherhood of Carpenters Local 1256, Cook is also being lovingly remembered and missed by his parents, siblings, and a large extended family.

“Cody had a heart of gold and would do whatever he could to help any one of his friends or family,” the obit says. “Cody had friends from his many walks of life and if you were Cody’s friend you knew he had your back and would be there for you whenever needed.”

Dozens of people reacted with shock and sadness on social media in response to his obituary being posted online. A pair of visitations was held Monday at Smith Funeral Home in Sarnia ahead of Tuesday morning’s memorial service.

Cook was arrested on Sept. 2, just three days prior to his death, on three charges: possession of fentanyl, possession of stolen property worth less than $5,000, and failing to comply with a release order, court records show. He was held in custody while the case was adjourned to last Thursday.

All outstanding charges, including another charge of failing to comply with a release order from mid-May – he was arrested on May 12 and released the next day – were withdrawn Thursday due to his death.

Despite the criminal charges coming to an end, multiple investigations are still underway. Andrew Morrison, a spokesperson with the Ministry of the Solicitor General, said Monday the chief coroner’s office is conducting an investigation to determine the cause of death while the ministry has a mandatory internal investigation to see whether jail staff complied with all policies and procedures.

The local police will be called in if the death is suspicious or due to any criminal activity, he added.

“If it is determined that a death was not due to natural causes, a mandatory inquest is held to examine the circumstances and manner of death,” Morrison said via email.

Sarnia police have said they were aware of the inmate’s death, but are waiting for the coroner’s findings before deciding whether there will by any further investigation. Const. Giovanni Sottosanti, a Sarnia police spokesperson, said Monday there was no update on their investigation.

The timeline – a Friday arrest followed by a Monday death – is eerily similar to another recent Sarnia Jail inmate’s death. Aaron Moffatt, 32, was found hanging from a bed sheet tied around a cell door and frame on Jan. 22, 2018. He died later in hospital.

Moffatt went without his regular doses of methadone that weekend that he’d been receiving for six years. Following an inquest last fall focused on how jails could better address the opioid crisis and treatment of recovering addicts, a jury’s recommendations focused on improving access to medication and if prescribed methadone isn’t given to an inmate within 24 hours, they must be re-assessed for withdrawal symptoms.

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