Benjamin Paul Hibbert
Benjamin Paul Hibbert, 52, spent 25 years with the Knox County Sheriff's Office 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 that the estate's federal lawsuit links to severe alcohol withdrawal while he was held in a monitored holding cell. The lawsuit, filed by his estate, alleges that staff ignored his wife's warnings about his risk, did not check on him as required, and falsified security logs. It also says a working defibrillator was not available during the resuscitation attempt. These claims come from the lawsuit and a TBI investigation as described in the report, and they have not been adjudicated.
Cause of death, as reported: Died from neglect by staff. The estate's federal lawsuit says jail staff ignored his wife's warnings about his withdrawal risk, skipped required checks, falsified security logs, and had no working defibrillator during resuscitation.
Reported by: the estate of Benjamin Paul Hibbert, through its federal lawsuit (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: The estate of Benjamin Paul Hibbert filed a federal lawsuit over his September 2025 death at the Union County Jail, and no settlement or award amount has been reported.