Cairo man found dead in cell

CAIRO, Ill. -- A Cairo man was found dead hanging by his shoe strings in his jail cell at the Cairo Police Department on Wednesday, said Alexander County Coroner David W. Barkett.

Demetrius Flowers, 38, was arrested early Wednesday, said Illinois State Police investigator Thomas Goessman. Investigations are ongoing, and he declined further comment until an autopsy was completed.

Barkett said preliminary autopsy reports say that Flowers' death was due to lack of oxygen to the brain because of ligature strangulation. Once all test results and reports are collected, an inquest will be scheduled and a coroner's jury will rule whether the cause of death was suicide, homicide or an accident.