Special prosecutor will investigate Raynette Turner’s death

Acting as special prosecutor, New York StateAttorney General Eric Schneiderman said Monday he will investigate the death of a woman who died in police custody last week while awaiting arraignment on theft charges.

“We’re not seeking to find anything wrong, and we’re not going to ignore the facts,” Schneiderman said at an unrelated press conference.

Raynette Turner died in her cell after being held over the weekend after allegedlystealing crab legs from a Restaurant Depot.

Osvaldo Gonzalez, whom Herman Turner hired after his wife’s death, told Metro last week that Raynette was hospitalized for about two hours after telling officers that she was feeling ill, and later complained a second time. She was found dead the following day.

“We’re going to handle this investigation thoroughly and impartially, thoroughly and completely independently,” Schneiderman said, declining to comment further on the investigation.

Last month, New York became the first state to name a special prosecutor to investigate officer-involved shootings when civilians are unarmed or if there is a question if a person is armed and dangerous.

Families of men and women who were killed by police officers, including Eric Garner’s family, urged Cuomo to assign the special prosecutor.