Officials: Blood clot to blame for Allegheny Co. Jail inmate's death

PITTSBURGH — A blood clot is to blame for the death an inmate who was returning to the Allegheny County Jail after a stay in the hospital.

The Allegheny County Medical Examiner says 46-year-old Larry Reitz Jr. died Monday from a pulmonary embolism. A blood clot in his leg broke free and traveled to his lungs.

Reitz was being transferred from UPMC Mercy Hospital back to the county jail. When he stood up to get out of the van, authorities say he collapsed to the ground, striking his head.

He was then transported back to Mercy where he was pronounced dead. There's no word on why he had been hospitalized in the first place.

Reitz had been jailed numerous times on charges including terroristic threats, criminal trespass and attempted burglary.

WPXI