Aleesha Mae Kempa
Aleesha Mae Kempa, 35, was a mother of two born in Great Falls, and her obituary described her as a daredevil who loved sports and "anything that moved fast." She was found dead in her cell at the Cascade County Detention Center on September 3, 2022. Sheriff Jesse Slaughter said the initial investigation shows she died by suicide, and he acknowledged that the jail is not equipped to care for people with serious mental illness. Her estate's wrongful death lawsuit alleged that detention officers should have recognized she was a suicide risk and checked on her more regularly. Cascade County agreed to pay $200,000 to settle the case without admitting liability.
Cause of death, as reported: Died by suicide (disputed; neglect alleged). Sheriff Jesse Slaughter said the initial investigation shows she died by suicide, while her estate's wrongful death lawsuit alleges detention officers should have recognized she was a suicide risk and checked on her more regularly.
Reported by: Cascade County Sheriff's Office (the agency that held her); Petroleum County coroner (medical examiner or coroner); Montana Division of Criminal Investigation (outside investigators); her estate's wrongful death lawsuit (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: Her estate sued Cascade County over her death at the Cascade County Detention Center, and the county agreed to pay $200,000 to settle without admitting liability.