Photo: Joe Raedle / Getty Images News / Getty Images
The Douglas County Sheriff's Office releases a timeline leading up to the March hospital death of an inmate who was in Douglas County Corrections.
The news release says at approximately 2:30 in the afternoon on Monday, February 23rd, Deputies were sent to the emergency room at Nebraska Medicine to conduct a preliminary investigation on a known inmate from the Douglas County Department of Corrections, who was taken to the hospital with lifesaving measures in progress.
Hospital staff advised Deputies that the inmate, later identified as 33-year-old Edward D. Gifford, was unresponsive and in unstable and critical condition.
Gifford died on Friday, March 6th.
Upon being notified, the DCSO opened an investigation.
Investigators are awaiting additional evidence to include final autopsy and toxicology reports from the medical examiner.
This matter will ultimately go before a grand jury, in accordance with state law.
The Sheriff's Office can share a basic timeline at this time:
• On February 19th, Gifford was arrested by the Omaha Police on a Felony Burglary warrant out of Lancaster County.
• Due to his condition upon arrival at county corrections, Gifford remained in the medical module for the entirety of his detention. The investigation has determined no actions on the part of the arresting officers resulted in Gifford’s condition. Gifford’s February 19th arrest was standard and involved no notable use of force.
• On February 23rd, Gifford was scheduled to be transported to Lancaster County on his warrant.
• On February 23rd, prior to his transport to Lancaster County, Gifford experienced a medical episode and was taken to the Nebraska Medicine emergency room with CPR in progress.
• He was pronounced deceased eleven days later, on March 6th, 2026.
(Picture from Getty Images)