April Peterson
April Peterson died in June 2023 at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Bernalillo County, New Mexico, about 26 hours after she was taken into custody, while held in the detox unit. Her family's lawsuit, through attorney Jason Wallace, says she died of an overdose while the corrections officer overseeing her unit was watching videos and playing games on his computer, and that required welfare checks were largely not done. The suit also says staff did not give her narcan or perform chest compressions, and it questions how drugs could have reached her, since she passed through a body scanner. The county has said it will review the lawsuit.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of an overdose (disputed; neglect alleged). Her family's lawsuit, through attorney Jason Wallace, says she died of an overdose while the officer overseeing her unit watched videos and played games, required welfare checks were largely not done, and staff did not give narcan or perform chest compressions; the county says it will review the lawsuit.
Reported by: Family's lawsuit, through attorney Jason Wallace (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: Her family filed a lawsuit over her death at the Metropolitan Detention Center through attorney Jason Wallace, alleging an overdose went unaddressed, and Bernalillo County said it would review the suit; no amount has been reported.