In a facility built for crime suspects and convicts, the music of "Mary Poppins" fills the air.

Jail cooks have been cutting crusts from sandwiches and spreading peanut butter on celery sticks. Between their regular duties, Coos County jailers provide attentive care to 18-year-old Henry L. Cozad.

"His activity level is such that he kind of needs or requires consistent, constant attention from the time he wakes up in the morning to the time he goes to sleep at night," said Sgt. Pat Downing. "We haven't had to deal with someone on this level. It's kind of constant need just like a little 6-year-old child."

Cozad, described as severely autistic, has been held at the Coquille facility since March 12. Deputies arrested him after they found the beaten body of Linda S. Foley in the home she shared with the teen and his father.

Rather than mix him in with the general jail population, officials are holding Cozad in the booking area, where staff members are constantly present. Downing said such intense supervision is easier than the alternative.

"If you don't, with his mental capacity, you are going to have more problems than it takes to do some of these special things," she said.

Cozad has limited language skills. Downing says he spends his days watching  children's movies on a TV outside his cell. He drinks Dr. Pepper, personally provided by the Coos County district attorney. Deputies give him medication and tell him when and how to shower.

"Even for him to go to the bathroom, they have to indicate to him to flush the toilet," Downing said.

The extra effort is meant to keep Cozad calm, Downing said, especially since the teen has a history of violence. Jailers also want to keep him safe from other inmates who could hurt him.

Jail Administrator Sgt. Delphine Green said Cozad has behaved himself in jail.

"I don't know if he would act out anyway," she said. "I think we are good to him and that helps."

Though Cozad hasn't been combative, Downing said he won't eat if he doesn't like how the food looks. He has given jailers a few unexpected hugs.

"We try to discourage it, but sometimes it's hard," Green said.

Downing says Cozad has been a bearable burden so far, but a long-term stay could become problematic for the county's limited jail staff.

"We don't have the personnel and we don't have the time," Downing said.

Cozad is expected to be sent to the Oregon State Hospital for commitment if an evaluator finds him unfit for trial.