A suspected package thief died on New York's notorious Rikers Island less than 24 hours after another woman also accused of package theft died in custody, officials said.
Details of the incidents
Umais Khan, 40, was behind bars after allegedly stealing packages from a SoHo building in early May. The 40-year-old suspect was found unresponsive in his bed at the Eric M Taylor Center around 11am on Tuesday, according to the city's Department of Corrections. Staff at Rikers Island performed lifesaving measures on Khan until medical personnel arrived minutes later, but the detainee was unable to be saved and died at 11.20am, officials said.
Khan, of Queens, was arrested May 5 and accused of prying open an apartment building door at MacDougal Street and Prince Street to steal packages, according to the NYPD. Police said the 40-year-old had a lengthy criminal record, with 21 arrests. His past offenses largely included burglary, petit larceny, and grand larceny.
'We are deeply saddened and horrified to learn that our client, Umais Khan, died this morning on Rikers Island,' Stan Germán, executive director at NY County Defender Services, said in a statement. 'We eagerly await the results of the medical examiner's autopsies, the pending city investigation, and how, moving forward, the Department of Correction intends to keep incarcerated individuals alive in their care,' he added.
Second death in 24 hours
Just a day earlier, inmate Rajpattie Ramkellawan, 41, suffered a 'medical emergency' at the Rose M Singer Center. Officials said medical assistance was provided to Ramkellawan, but she was pronounced dead at 11.15am. According to police, Ramkellawan had multiple arrests in 2023 for burglary and petit larceny, including package theft. The 41-year-old lived with 'intractable behavioral health challenges,' her attorney said in a statement. 'She never lost her childlike innocence despite encountering unimaginable trauma and adversity,' said mental health attorney specialist Katherine LeGeros Bajuk. 'Her legal team is devastated by this tragedy, and our hearts go out to her loving and supportive family.'
Official responses and context
The causes of death for both inmates are under investigation. 'I am absolutely devastated that we have lost someone in our care and this tragedy is felt by every member of service,' DOC Commissioner Stanley Richards said in a statement. 'On behalf of myself and the Department, I share my deepest condolences with his loved ones. This incident will be investigated,' he added.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani said in a statement that the city has opened an investigation into the deaths. 'Our administration remains firmly committed to the urgent and essential work of creating better conditions in our city's jail system and closing Rikers Island as quickly as possible,' he added. According to the Vera Institute of Justice, about 15 people died at Rikers Island in 2025. During Mayor Eric Adams' tenure, 48 people have died in New York City jails or shortly after release.
