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James Ray III dies in jail while awaiting sentencing in 2018 murder of girlfriend Angela Bledsoe

James Ray III, convicted of killing girlfriend in NJ, dies in jail
James Ray III, convicted of killing girlfriend in NJ, dies in jail 00:33

MONTCLAIR, N.J. -- James Ray III, a New Jersey lawyer convicted of killing his girlfriend, died in jail as he awaited sentencing.

Essex County officials say Ray, 60, had a medical emergency in his jail cell Sunday. He was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Ray's cause of death is not yet known, but officials say a sergeant who found him administered Narcan.

Ray's lawyer said, in a statement to CBS2, "Yet another tragic consequence for James Rays' children. What we know is that James Ray III has been confirmed deceased. Why and how and where exactly, WE do not have those details. The Essex County Jail is the only one who can answer these questions, along with the Medical Examiner. What we do know is that another human being was not protected while in the care and custody of the Essex County Correctional Facility and their medical provider CFG. We will await the administration's explanation."  

In May, Ray was convicted in the shooting death of Angela Bledsoe in their Montclair home in 2018.

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