Unexplained Death of Woman in Waterbury Police Custody Raises Broader Concerns About Inmate Safety
Waterbury, CT – June 13, 2025

The Connecticut Office of the Inspector General is investigating the in-custody death of 29-year-old Alyssa Insogna, who died while detained at the Waterbury Police Department on Saturday, May 10, 2025.

Insogna, a white female, was arrested the day before near an abandoned house on Willow Street, where Waterbury officers recovered multiple folds of suspected narcotics that later tested positive for heroin and fentanyl. A records check revealed she had multiple outstanding warrants. Unable to post bond, Insogna was held over the weekend, pending a court appearance on Monday, May 12.

Police records show she was last seen awake at 9:15 a.m. on Saturday. During a routine check at noon, she appeared to be sleeping. At 2:23 p.m., she was found unresponsive. Emergency personnel were called, and she was pronounced dead at 2:53 p.m.

An autopsy conducted by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner listed her cause of death as undetermined, pending the results of toxicology tests.

Three Months No Answers: The Waterbury Times Update on Alyssa Insogna’s Death

Pattern of In-Custody Deaths Across Connecticut

Insogna’s death is the latest in a string of recent in-custody fatalities across Connecticut that highlight growing concern around the intersection of law enforcement, substance use, and inmate medical care.

• Milford – Michael Brown, 52, died in June 2024 after being pulled from his vehicle by police during a confrontation in a supermarket parking lot. The medical examiner ruled his death a homicide, citing cardiac arrest brought on by physical exertion during the incident. Toxicology revealed fentanyl, oxycodone, and THC in his system.
• Wolcott – Joseph Jackson, 51, died in June 2025 after becoming agitated at home. He was handcuffed by police for safety and sedated by EMS before suffering cardiac arrest in the ambulance. He was pronounced dead at Saint Mary’s Hospital. His death is under review by the Inspector General, and autopsy results are pending.
• Hartford – Unidentified Woman, also died while in custody. Her cause of death was determined to be a combination of fentanyl use and preexisting heart conditions.

Each case involved individuals with suspected substance use, and each death occurred either during transport or while the person was held in police custody. All are being investigated by the Office of the Inspector General, as required under state law for any in-custody death.

Growing Public Scrutiny

The clustering of these cases has prompted renewed questions about how police departments monitor detainees—particularly those suspected of recent drug use—and whether there are adequate safeguards in place.

“This isn’t about blame,” said one local advocate. “It’s about whether we’re doing enough to ensure people survive long enough to face trial or get help. These are still human beings.”

Many departments in Connecticut now equip officers with naloxone, an opioid-reversal drug. However, critics say that simply having the drug is not enough if signs of overdose or distress are missed or misinterpreted.

Investigation Ongoing

As of now, the Waterbury Police Department has not released any further details beyond what was included in the Inspector General’s initial statement. Toxicology results for Alyssa Insogna are pending, and the Office of Inspector General will release a full report upon completion of the investigation.

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