Amber Hilberling
Amber Hilberling was 25 years old and the mother of a young son, Levi, whom she spoke to every day, according to her stepfather; while held at Mabel Bassett Correctional Center she was earning college credits. On October 24, 2016, she was found hanging in her cell in McLoud, Oklahoma, and was pronounced dead shortly afterward, according to corrections officials. The state medical examiner ruled her death a suicide from asphyxia by hanging, but her mother, Rhonda Whitlock, and her stepfather said she would not have taken her own life, and the stepfather said he had spoken with her the night before. A lawsuit brought over her death alleges inadequate supervision and inadequate medical and mental health care, and the Oklahoma Department of Corrections has denied the claims. Her estate asked to dismiss the lawsuit in April 2019, and her family has since cared for her son.
Cause of death, as reported: Died by suicide (disputed; neglect alleged). The state medical examiner ruled the death a suicide by hanging, but her family doubts she would have taken her own life, and her estate's lawsuit alleges inadequate supervision and medical and mental health care.
Reported by: state medical examiner; Oklahoma Department of Corrections (the agency that held her); her family; her estate's lawsuit (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: Her estate sued the Oklahoma Department of Corrections alleging inadequate supervision, medical care and segregation procedures, and the estate asked to dismiss the lawsuit in April 2019 with no payment reported.
Sources (12)
- Amber Hilberling, woman who pushed husband off high-rise, dies in prison
- Oklahoma woman convicted of pushing husband out of window found dead in prison cell
- Woman who pushed husband out of high-rise window found dead in prison
- Amber Hilberling, Convicted of Pushing Husband Out High Rise Window, Found Dead in Prison
- DOC: Amber Hilberling dies of suspected suicide
- Woman convicted in husband’s death hangs herself in Okla. prison
- ‘Never stop fighting for the truth’: Family’s message after woman found hanging in prison cell
- Oklahoma Corrections Department sued over inmate's suicide
- Mother’s Lawsuit Says Oklahoma Prison Failed to Prevent Her Daughter’s Death
- Estate drops lawsuit over inmate's death at Oklahoma prison
- Estate Drops Hilberling Wrongful Death Lawsuit
- 'Women Who Kill' Subject Amber Hilberling's Story Is Shocking