Abby Angelo
Abby Angelo, 29, died at the Jefferson County jail on June 28, 2021, nine days after she was booked there. Her surviving child and legal guardian filed a lawsuit saying that deputies saw her health declining, that she was too weak to walk and had shortness of breath, and that nurses did not adequately treat or escalate her care. The lawsuit says she died of tricuspid valve endocarditis, a heart infection that it claims might not have been fatal with antibiotics or surgery. In May 2024 a federal judge refused to dismiss the lawsuit against the jail's medical contractor Wellpath, five nurses, Jefferson County and the sheriff.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of illness (neglect alleged). Her surviving child and legal guardian, in a lawsuit, says she died of tricuspid valve endocarditis and that jail nurses did not adequately treat or escalate her care despite visible decline.
Reported by: plaintiffs in lawsuit (Abby Angelo's surviving child and legal guardian) (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: Her surviving child sued Wellpath, five nurses, Jefferson County and the sheriff, and in May 2024 a federal judge refused to dismiss the case against them, with no settlement or award reported.