Niagara Falls Woman Dies While Being Held at Erie County Holding Center

A 35-year-old woman from Niagara Falls died last week while being held at the Erie County Holding Center, according to the Erie County Sheriff’s Office.

Officials identified the woman as Elizabeth Calaty, who was booked into the downtown Buffalo facility on Friday morning after appearing in Buffalo City Court. Authorities said Calaty had been taken into custody roughly two hours earlier on a warrant for petit larceny.

The sheriff’s office reported that Calaty completed the intake process shortly after arriving at 10:45m. Following the assessment, officials determined she should be placed on detox observation. Later that night, at about 11:45pm, she “reportedly refused a medical visit,” according to the sheriff’s statement.

In the morning hours of September 20th at approx. 8:15am, a nurse accompanied by a deputy went to check on Calaty and discovered her in her cell unresponsive and without a pulse. Authorities said there were “no obvious signs of trauma” and that a search of her cell did not uncover contraband.

An autopsy was performed Monday, but officials said the cause of death has not yet been determined pending toxicology results.

The case has been referred to outside agencies for review. The New York State Commission of Correction and the Office of the New York State Attorney General were both notified. The sheriff’s office stated it is working with the state’s Office of Special Investigation as the inquiry continues.

The investigation remains active.

Niagara Falls Woman Dies While Being Held at Erie County Holding Center