MURDER SUSPECT COMMITS SUICIDE AT JAIL

BSO Case Number: BS09-07-0291
PIO Number: 09-7-7
Date: July 2, 2009
Time: 6:35 a.m. Jurisdiction: Fort Lauderdale
Place of Occurrence: Main Jail, 555 SE 1 Avenue, Fort Lauderdale

Victim(s):

  • Dervis Lawrence, 39, 12/22/69, male, 3375 SW 173 Way, Miramar (DECEASED)

Suspect(s):

  • N/A

Description of Incident:

A Miramar man took his own life Thursday morning while he was being held for premeditated murder at the Broward Sheriff’s Office Main Jail.

At approximately 6:35 a.m. on July 2, a BSO detention deputy was conducting a head count on the seventh floor when he discovered 39-year-old Dervis Lawrence with a sheet wrapped around his neck. Lawrence was in the cell alone.

CPR was immediately administered. Once Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue arrived, Lawrence was transported to Broward General Medical Center where he was pronounced dead at 7:26 a.m.

The Broward Medical Examiner’s Office will perform an autopsy. Per departmental policy, BSO’s Homicide Unit will investigate the case. Miramar police arrested Lawrence on April 23, 2009.

INVESTIGATORS: Homicide Sgt. G. Bukata, RID & Homicide Det. J. Ventura, RID
THIS REPORT BY: Veda Coleman-Wright/PIO July 2, 2009 1500
Media Relations Main Page
BSO's Media Relations Staff Bios
Current News Releases
Browse the News Archive
Search the News Archive
Administrative Offices Main Page

Site Search:

Arrest Search:

View the arrest information and photo of a current incarcerated Broward County inmate.

Most Wanted

<strong>Joseph Saint Juste</strong><br/>Ht: 5'10"<br/>Wt: 200 lbs.

Joseph Saint Juste
Ht: 5'10"
Wt: 200 lbs.

Missing Persons

<strong>Debra Young</strong><br/>Ht: 5'04"<br/>Wt: 135 lbs.

Debra Young
Ht: 5'04"
Wt: 135 lbs.

Found & Forgotten

<strong>BS84-06-4372</strong><br/>He was a white or Hispanic male with black hair

BS84-06-4372
He was a white or Hispanic male with black hair

Frequently Asked Questions
Media Releations
BSO Kids