Coroner Rules Lafayette Domestic Battery Suspect's Death Undetermined

Cardiac arrest suspected after man died 6 days after arrest, but no evidence of trauma or excessive force found

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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Lennis Mitchell, 36, died in the hospital six days after his arrest on domestic battery charges in Lafayette, Indiana. The Tippecanoe County Coroner's Office announced that Mitchell's cause of death was undetermined, but cardiac arrest was the suspected cause, potentially due to ingestion of an undetectable substance or severe lactic acidosis from a foot pursuit with police. The coroner found no evidence of significant trauma or excessive force used during the arrest.

Why it matters

This case highlights the challenges in determining cause of death in police custody situations, especially when there are no clear signs of physical trauma. It raises questions about the use of force by police and the need for thorough investigations to ensure transparency and accountability.

The details

Officers with the Lafayette Police Department responded to a reported domestic battery on September 22, 2025. They found Mitchell fleeing the scene and took him into custody using what they described as the "minimally necessary force" after he failed to comply with commands. An officer started driving Mitchell to the hospital, but he became unresponsive during the trip. Mitchell died six days later at the hospital. The coroner's investigation found no evidence of significant trauma or injuries, and the body camera footage showed no use of chokeholds, tasers, or prolonged restraint. The coroner listed the two most probable causes of Mitchell's cardiac arrest as ingestion of an undetectable substance or severe lactic acidosis from the foot pursuit, but could not confirm or exclude either as the definitive cause.

  • On September 22, 2025, police responded to a reported domestic battery and took Mitchell into custody.
  • Mitchell became unresponsive while being transported to the hospital on September 22, 2025.
  • Mitchell died in the hospital six days after his arrest, on September 28, 2025.

The players

Lennis Mitchell

A 36-year-old Lafayette resident who was under investigation for domestic battery when he died in the hospital six days after his arrest.

Carrie Costello

The Tippecanoe County Coroner who announced the findings of Mitchell's death investigation.

Lafayette Police Department

The law enforcement agency that responded to the reported domestic battery and took Mitchell into custody.

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What they’re saying

“The coroner lists the two most probably causes of Mitchell's cardiac arrest as ingestion of a substance not detectable on a toxicology screening, or severe lactic acidosis associated the strenuous foot pursuit with police the morning he was taken into custody.”

— Carrie Costello, Tippecanoe County Coroner (wthr.com)

What’s next

The coroner noted that neither of the probable causes of cardiac arrest could be confirmed or excluded, and Mitchell's manner of death was classified as undetermined. The investigation into the incident remains ongoing.

The takeaway

This case highlights the complexities in determining cause of death in police custody situations, especially when there are no clear signs of physical trauma. It underscores the need for thorough, transparent investigations to ensure accountability and build public trust in law enforcement.