Indiana State Police requested to investigate death at St. Joseph County Jail

ST. JOSEPH COUNTY – The St. Joseph County Police Department has requested that the Indiana State Police investigate after an inmate at the St. Joseph County Jail was found unresponsive in his cell today.

Preliminary investigation indicates that today, January 30, 2026, at approximately 12:35 p.m., jail staff found an inmate, identified as Dustin Pate, 34, unresponsive in his cell while doing routine cell checks.  Jail staff began life-saving measures until South Bend EMTs arrived.  Pate was pronounced deceased at the jail.  No foul play is suspected.

An autopsy is scheduled to be performed on Sunday, February 1, 2026, at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, MI where the cause and manner of the death will be determined.

Family of Pate has been notified.