Santa Maria, Calif. – An incarcerated individual has died at the Northern Branch Jail after being found unresponsive in her cell. The incarcerated individual was an adult female who had been arrested by Sheriff’s Deputies on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, for an outstanding no bail felony arrest warrant related to being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm and ammunition. She appeared in court on Friday, March 21, 2025, where she was remanded to custody without bail for an additional felony charge of cruelty to animals.

On Monday, March 24, 2025, at approximately 5:36 p.m., a custody deputy was conducting checks and found the woman down in her cell. There was a total of three incarcerated individuals housed in the four-person cell.  One of the additional incarcerated individuals was in the cell at the time and the third incarcerated individual was being escorted by staff from another part of the jail back to the cell when this incident occurred. Custody deputies and jail medical immediately started life saving measures. County Fire and AMR responded and took over life-saving measures but were unable to resuscitate the woman.

Detectives from the Sheriff’s Office are conducting multiple investigations into the in-custody death, including a Coroner investigation. Additional information will be released once family members have been notified of the death and upon the conclusion of the investigation.

*UPDATE  3/27/25 *

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office is sharing follow-up information from the in-custody death that occurred on Monday, March 24, 2025. The decedent is identified as 57-year-old Caprice Fowler of Lompoc. The autopsy revealed that this was a tragic, but unavoidable death. The cause of death has been determined to be acute peritonitis due to a ruptured gastric ulcer. The manner of death is natural causes.

In addition to a thorough administrative investigation, the Sheriff’s Office will be continuing to provide transparent information to the Santa Barbara County Grand Jury, who conducts separate reviews of these incidents to further confirm that the best interests of Santa Barbara County community members are being served.