Jennifer Lobato's Jail Death: Jeffco Sheriff Admits She Didn't Need to Die

Today, a funeral will be held for Jennifer Lobato, a 38-year-old mother of seven who died in Jefferson County jail.

She needn't have. In a highly unusual admission, Jefferson County Sheriff Jeff Shrader is now publicly conceding that had she received timely medical care for what attorney David Lane, who is representing Lobato's family, describes as heroin withdrawal, she would likely still be alive today.

“We’ve learned there were numerous opportunities of missed communication," Shrader added. "The communication between the deputy staff and between deputies and the medical unit could have been more demanding. The communication amongst deputies could have been more clear. The communication with the medical unit could have been more clear.”

Shrader was "bothered by the misses in communication" and "the off-the-cuff statements that appear callous. I’m bothered by those."

Jacki Kelley, a spokesperson for the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department, told CBS4 Thursday that deputies shared that information with jail medical staff.

“On at least two occasions, there is no question our deputies contacted the medical staff and related her medical status,” said Kelley. “Her medical status and condition was reported to medical personnel.”

Kelley told CBS4 that an autopsy performed on Lobato was inconclusive and provided no clear cause of death. She said toxicology results would take six to eight weeks and might provide more clues as to why Jennifer Lobato passed away. Kelley added that when Lobato was admitted to the jail Sunday afternoon, she denied using controlled substances or having withdrawal symptoms.