Nationwide — Saniyah Cheatham, an 18-year-old African American teen from New York City, died while in NYPD custody under unclear circumstances. Police claim she took her own life in a jail cell, but her family strongly denies it and is demanding answers.
Cheatham was found unconscious in a cell at a Bronx precinct cell just before 1 a.m. on Saturday. Officers attempted CPR, but she was later pronounced dead at Lincoln Hospital.
Earlier that day, Saniyah had been at a family cookout in Crotona Park for the July Fourth holiday. Her mother, Thomasina Cheatham, said she appeared happy and smiling.
After the gathering, the family says Saniyah got into a physical fight with her girlfriend, leading to both of them being arrested. The NYPD has not confirmed the incident but says an investigation is underway.
According to police, Saniyah used a sweater to hang herself in the cell. Her mother disputes this claim, stating her daughter wasn’t wearing a sweater that day. She suspects foul play and questions what really happened inside the precinct.
“What happened to her? I don’t believe she killed herself,” Thomasina told NBC New York. “Maybe she said something they didn’t like, they roughed her up. I don’t believe my daughter committed suicide.”
The NYPD’s Force Investigation Division is looking into the case, but the family is pushing for transparency. They’ve called on the NYPD to release surveillance footage and body-worn camera video from the precinct. Saniyah’s brother has also urged officials to release the autopsy findings.
The medical examiner has yet to determine an official cause of death. The family says they won’t stop pushing until they get answers.
