Sheriff’s office release identity of inmate who died at Jasper County Jail

Jasper County Sheriff’s Office has now released the identity of the female inmate who was found dead in her cell at the county jail this past week. Authorities said 31-year-old Melissa Marie Hogan, of Algona, was booked into Jasper County Jail at 6:19 p.m. on Sept. 1, 2025. A little past midnight, she was found unresponsive.

Newton Police Department had charged Hogan with operating while intoxicated, first offense. The sheriff’s office said no foul play is suspected.

When Hogan was found unresponsive at the jail, a request for medical care was made by jail staff around 12:08 a.m. Sept. 2. The sheriff’s office and the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigations are investigating the death. No further information is available at this time, pending an autopsy and toxicology report.