Fort Benton man dies in county jail

FORT BENTON (AP) — Officials are investigating the hanging death of a 33-year-old man at the Chouteau County jail in Fort Benton.

Sheriff Vern Burdick said Monday that jail staff found Jesse Bennett of Fort Benton dead in his cell on Friday afternoon. It appears he used a blanket to hang himself.

Burdick says Bennett was the only inmate in the jail. He had been arrested at 3 a.m. Thursday on an assault charge.

His body was taken to Billings for an autopsy.

The case is being investigated by Fergus County Coroner Dick Brown, who said Monday he had not seen the autopsy results.

State law requires a coroner's inquest to be held when a person dies in the custody of law enforcement.