Authorities are investigating the death of an inmate at the Harlan County jail in Alma in south central Nebraska.

Harlan County Attorney Bryan McQuay says 28-year-old Andrea Noel, of Holdrege, was taken to a hospital on Saturday after hanging herself in her cell. She was pronounced dead at the hospital.

McQuay says Noel was serving a 38-day sentence for writing bad checks. She started her sentence last Wednesday.

An autopsy is pending. State law requires that all in-custody deaths be investigated by an independent agency. A special prosecutor will be appointed and a grand jury will investigate.