MASON CITY – The Cerro Gordo County jail inmate who was found unresponsive in the male dorm on January 2, 2016, has been identified as Edward Michael Hochstatter, 54, of Bloomington, Minnesota. Hochstatter had been arrested on the evening of December 31, 2015, by Clear Lake Police for operating while intoxicated. Hochstatter was one of five occupants in the male dorm, which is a large, well-lit, video monitored and recorded room with bunk beds, a table and a television.
An autopsy was performed today by Dr. Jonathan Thompson of the Iowa Office State Medical Examiner in Ankeny, Iowa. The cause of death has not been determined at this time, but there were no signs of trauma. Additional laboratory testing including neuropathology and toxicology will be done. The results of those tests and complete autopsy results may take several weeks.
The investigation, which included a video review of Hochstatter’s stay, interviews of inmates and staff, and the autopsy, determined there was no foul play.