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"They did everything together," Hedden said of the sisters, "including get into trouble."
Late in the afternoon last Thursday (March 7) - female visitation day at the jail - Karen Pederson's cellmate was taken by jailor Linda Akins to meet a visitor, Hedden said. Karen asked Akins why her cellmate was being taken away, to which Akins informed her about the rules for visitation day.
After taking Karen's cellmate to meet her visitor, Akins reported hearing Kelly Pederson's cellmate scream, Hedden said.
"When (Akins) went to check, she found Kelly (Pederson) hanging," said Hedden. "(Akins) immediately called for assistance, which came from the (Sheriff's Department) patrol division."
After Kelly Pederson, who used a bed sheet to hang herself from pipes in the cell's ceiling, was cut down, an ambulance was called to the scene, said Major J.P. Gallardo.
"She could not have been hanging for more than 60 seconds," Gallardo said.
While Kelly was being evaluated, Hedden said she decided to check on Karen. On first inspection Hedden said it was difficult to tell that Karen was also hanging in her cell because she had used another sheet to cover herself from view. Karen may have been hanging for up to 3 minutes before she, too, was cut down, Hedden said.
"Both were breathing when they were transported to Harris Regional," Hedden said. Kelly was sedated, while Karen later required a breathing tube and IV medications, she said.
While in the hospital, both were "uncooperatives and refused treatment," Gallardo said.
The sisters, who have an extensive criminal history and have attempted suicide on at least one other occasion, believed they had the cooperation of their cellmates "not to say anything no matter what they saw or what they heard," Hedden said.
Following an evaluation by Smoky Mountain Mental Health, both were transported by patrol car to Broughton Hospital on Friday, she said.
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Karen Pederson
Kelly Pederson