Isle prisoner's death in Kentucky spurs probe

Relatives say officials ignored her pleas for medical attention

State public safety officials say they are planning to investigate Saturday's death of a Hawaii inmate at a prison in Kentucky.

Relatives of Sarah Ah Mau, 43, allege that her pleas for medical attention were ignored by officials at the Otter Creek facility.

Frank Lopez, interim state director of public safety, said he was told by prison officials that Mau's death resulted from a heart attack.

Lopez said state officials could fly to Kentucky this week to investigate Mau's death.

Mau's sister, Julie Frierson, said Mau had been complaining of severe stomach pains for more than a month. A prison doctor called it "constipation" and gave her castor oil, her relatives said.

They said Mau had told an inmate on Friday that she could not catch her breath. She was hospitalized but died on Saturday, according to family members.

Mau had been at the prison for 13 years. She was convicted of murder in 1993 for beating her 18-month-old son and denying him medical care that could have saved his life.

Mau pleaded not guilty and would have been up for parole next summer.