Coroner: Inmate died from 'blunt force trauma'

NEW CASTLE – Authorities are investigating the death of a New Castle man who apparently suffered fatal injuries while being held in the Henry County jail.

Henry County Prosecutor Joe Bergacs on Monday confirmed the county’s major investigations team was probing the Friday death of 32-year-old Brian L. Gosser.

Officials at the Marion County coroner's office said Monday afternoon Gosser's death had been caused by "multiple blunt force trauma injuries."

The New Castle man died Friday at St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis, they said.

Gosser was arrested Feb. 17 on drunken driving charges after he was accused of causing a crash at Ind. 3 and Henry County Road 300-S that caused minor injuries to an 11-year-old passenger in his Jeep.

Records indicate emergency personnel were called to an incident involving Gosser at the county jail, at 127 N. 12th St., shortly before 5 p.m. last Tuesday.

According to a release issued Monday afternoon by Bergacs, Gosser had been "involved in a fight" in the jail sometime before last Thursday night, when he was transported to Henry County Hospital. He was then transferred to the Indianapolis hospital, where he later died.

An autopsy was conducted Saturday in Marion County.

A Henry Circuit Court 3 hearing had been set for 10 a.m. Monday on Gosser’s request for a reduction of his $12,000 bond, or to be released on home detention. The New Castle man had been convicted of driving while intoxicated at least three times.

He was the father of three daughters.

The major investigations team includes officers from the New Castle Police Department, Henry County Sheriff’s Department and Indiana State Police.

Contact news reporter Douglas Walker at (765) 213-5851. You can also follow him on Twitter @DouglasWalkerSP.