A Teen Was Arrested Over a Fight — Officials Say She Died by Suicide in Jail, But Family Has Suspicions

Saniyah Cheatham, 18, was found dead in her jail cell hours after being arrested. Her family disputes the official story and is calling for full transparency.

An 18-year-old college student died in a New York City jail cell just hours after being arrested — and while police say it was suicide, her family is raising serious questions about how she died and demanding the release of all surveillance footage.

Saniyah Cheatham, a student at Bronx Community College, was arrested on July 4 following a fight — reportedly with her girlfriend — according to the NYPD and media outlets including NBC New York, FOX 5, and CBS News.

Cheatham was found hanging in a cell at the 41st Precinct shortly after midnight on July 5, police said. The New York City Medical Examiner’s Office later ruled her death a suicide by hanging.

But her family strongly disputes that conclusion — and they’ve enlisted civil rights attorney Ben Crump to call for an independent investigation and the release of all jail surveillance video.

“We Don’t Believe She Took Her Own Life”

“The NYPD claims Saniyah took her own life,” Crump said in a statement, “but her family is demanding full transparency — including the immediate release of all video from inside the 41st Precinct.”

Saniyah’s mother, Thomasina Cheatham, says police told her that Saniyah used a sweater to hang herself — but insists her daughter didn’t have a sweater with her when she was taken into custody.

“I don’t believe she killed herself,” Thomasina told NBC New York. “Maybe she said something they didn’t like, they roughed her up. I don’t believe my daughter committed suicide.”

The family also says Saniyah had no history of suicidal thoughts or behavior, according to FOX 5.

Public Pressure Grows for Answers

At a press conference on July 14, streamed by CBS New York, Crump joined Thomasina and other supporters outside the police precinct to demand answers.

“We want to know what happened to Saniyah Cheatham,” Crump said. “We want to know how it happened — and why it wasn’t prevented.”

Saniyah’s brother has called for the public release of her autopsy report, which the medical examiner’s office says can be accessed by the family as next of kin.

The NYPD’s Force Investigation Division is currently reviewing the case, the department confirmed to PEOPLE.