Police Investigating Allegheny Co. Jail Inmate's Death

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – Investigators continue looking into the death of an inmate on Monday evening who was returning to the Allegheny County Jail after a stay in the hospital.

According to the Allegheny County Medical Examiner, 46-year-old Larry Reitz Jr. died from a pulmonary embolism. In layman's terms, the county jail inmate had a blood clot in his leg which broke free and traveled up to his lungs.

According to the Allegheny County Sheriff's Office, Reitz - who stands six-feet-two-inches and weighs 365 pounds - collapsed Monday evening.

He was being transferred from UPMC Mercy Hospital back to the county jail. When he stood up to get out of the van, authorities say he collapsed to the ground, striking his head.

He was then transported back to Mercy where he was pronounced dead. There's no word on why he had been hospitalized in the first place.

Reitz had been jailed numerous times on charges including terroristic threats, criminal trespass and attempted burglary.

Betty Sivak says Reitz had a difficult childhood and had problems with family.

The Sheriff's Office had no further comment about the case, except to say it was a standard inmate transport. There's been no word from Allegheny County Police.

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