An Arizona inmate has committed suicide in prison. She was three years into her sentence for fatally poisoning her two young daughters.
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The Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation & Reentry (ADCRR) released a statement about the death of Retta Cruse, 38. She "died on Friday, February 21, 2025, from an apparent act of self-harm by hanging."
Cruse was discovered unresponsive in her housing unit, and "conducted life-saving measures until paramedics arrived onsite."
"Responding paramedics, in consultation with medical staff, pronounced Cruse deceased."
No further details or circumstances on Cruse's death have been officially released. We do know that she was admitted to prison in 2022 over the killing of her two young children, however. It is not known if these actions contributed to her suicide.
The statement further added, "Inmate Cruse was admitted to ADCRR custody in 2022 after being sentenced out of Maricopa County for two counts of First Degree Murder."
It's not known how Cruse was able to hang herself in her housing unit. It's likely that no further information will come out about her death.
Retta Cruse Was Arrested In 2022 Over Poisoning Her Children
In 2021, ABC 15 Arizona reported that a man had called the police over finding his children deceased. Authorities responded to the scene to find two children, Aleyah, 9, and Royal, 4, unresponsive in bed. Retta Cruse herself had barricaded herself in a bedroom.
The power had been cut to the home before investigators arrived.
She was suffering from self-inflicted stab wounds and had to get treated for them in hospital. She recovered and was taken in by authorities.
Investigators determined that Cruse had overdosed her children with prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications intentionally.
The year after, AZ Central reported that Cruse pleaded guilty. She was sentenced and booked in the same year. She was hit with two charges of First Degree Murder.
It's not known why exactly Cruse overdosed her children.
Retta Cruse's life in prison was not commented on. It's possible she was tormented by other inmates given what she was in for. It is also possible Cruse has been suffering from suicidal thoughts, given how she was found with self-inflicted stab wounds.
Again, nothing is confirmed. With her death, however, this tragic story has come to a close.
