A Hillsborough County Prison guard had escaped death thanks to the quick response of a group of inmates who saved her from a suffocation attempt at the hands of a 42-year-old prisoner.
Police said that Deputy Lillian Jimenez was lured to a restroom on June 7 after the suspect, inmate Bridgette Harvey, told her that someone needed help.
As Jimenez searched for that person inside the restroom, Harvey approached her from behind and tried to suffocate her by placing a pillowcase around her head.
Harvey’s planned attack could in a matter of minutes have succeeded if a group of other inmates did not intervene and freed her after hearing the struggle.
“While these inmates put our deputy in danger, there were others who did the right thing by coming to her aid, and for that, I am grateful,” Sheriff Chad Chronister said.
“Thanks to the quick response of our Emergency Response Team and the inmates who showed compassion to help our deputy, a dire situation turned into the safe rescue of Deputy Jimenez.”
