Mother of Samantha Piercey doesn't believe authorities' explanation of her death

The mother of Samantha Piercey, the inmate who died at the jail in Clarenvillelast Saturday, says she finally has an explanation for her daughter's death but it doesn't add up.

"They told me what time she died, and how it happened. They said it was suicide, but Idon't believe it," she said.

"Iknow she wouldn't do that. She was coming back to Corner Brook and she was looking forward to it."

Police and clergyfirst contacted Lisa Pierceyon Saturday night to notify her of Samantha's death. Piercey said she waited a few hours and then reachedout to the jail and hospital for more answers, but got nowhere. Shesaid it was only onMonday evening, 48 hours later and after her story aired on CBC, that authorities told her Samantha had died by suicide.

• Mother of dead inmate seeks answers as independent investigation launched

• Second sudden death of an inmate at Clarenville Correctional Centre for Women

Piercey said she was offered no apology about the delay, other thanproperly notifying her with details that had somehowslipped through the cracks.

A spokesperson for the Department of Justice and Safety confirmed to CBCthatthe Office of the Chief Medical Examiner contactedPiercey, but that government would not comment further on the matter, because "thisincident is under investigation."

Samantha Piercey, 28,was due to return to Corner Brook from theClarenvilleCorrectional Centre for Womento await trial in the first week of June on a host of charges, including aggravated assault.

'Nobody sat with her'

Lisa Piercey said the last time she talked to her daughter wason May 25 the day before she died. Samanthawas upbeatand spoke of seeing her own daughter and son. But Piercey said the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner told herthat Samantha's mood was vastly different in the hours just before her death.

"They said she had a phone conversation with somebody, it upset her.That's it that's all Iknow. She was speaking with an inmate, and Iguess that conversation escalated to the point they were yelling," said Piercey.

Piercey said she was told that Samantha was then dosed with an anti-depressant and left alone in her cell.

When guards returned, Samantha was dead.

"Nobody sat with her, nobody watched her. [It was] 45minutes before they checked on her, knowing she was upset," said Piercey.

She has two children that she adores. She would not do that.- Lisa Piercey

Piercey said her daughterhad mental health issues, mainly "anger-related," for which she took anti-depressants, the same medication given to her that night.But Samantha had never spoken of suicide before.

"She has two children that she adores. She would not do that," she said.

Pierceywas told there was video footage of the incident.Now, shewants to see it, and is pressing the Department of Justice and Public Safety to do so. The province would not comment on that matter toCBC.

Piercey added thatafter she buries her daughter, she willalso fight for changes to the correctionssystem as a whole.

"There's no compassion," she said.

"Anybody with any kind of mental health [issue],jail is not the answer for them. But that seems to be wherethey'reputting them."

Samantha Piercey is the second inmate in two months to die at the jail in Clarenville. Those deaths, along with a third male inmate who died in St. John's last year, are now the subject of an independent investigation.