Benjamin Hibbert
Benjamin Hibbert, 52, worked for 25 years with the Knox County Sheriff's Office before leaving in 2016, and later ran a hot dog stand with his wife, Emily, while struggling with alcohol addiction. He died on September 6, 2025, at the Union County Jail in Tennessee, after a seizure from alcohol withdrawal while held in a monitored holding cell. His estate's federal lawsuit says staff ignored his wife's warnings about his risk, failed to check on him, and falsified security logs. The lawsuit also says a working defibrillator was not available during resuscitation. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation says its investigation is still active and ongoing.
Cause of death, as reported: Died from neglect by staff (disputed). His estate's federal lawsuit says jail staff ignored his wife's warnings about his withdrawal risk, failed to check on him, falsified security logs, and had no working defibrillator during resuscitation, and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation's investigation remains active.
Reported by: lawsuit filed by the estate of Benjamin Paul Hibbert (family or their lawyers); Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (outside investigators).
Lawsuit: His estate filed a federal lawsuit alleging Union County Jail staff ignored his wife's warnings, failed to check on him, falsified security logs, and lacked a working defibrillator during resuscitation; no settlement or award has been reported.