Billy Woods
Billy Woods, 16, died by suicide in December 2016 at a regional juvenile detention center in Muskogee County, Oklahoma. His estate's federal lawsuit says staff did not check on him for more than two hours and waited about 20 minutes to call 911. A state Department of Human Services investigation, made public through the lawsuit, found that staff did not follow suicide-prevention policies, did not carry out the required 15-minute checks, and falsified check records. The state revoked the facility's license after his death, and the shift supervisor has denied wrongdoing in court filings. Woods preferred to be called by his middle name, Duane, according to the report.
Cause of death, as reported: Died by suicide (neglect alleged). Billy Woods' estate says staff did not check on him for more than two hours, delayed calling 911 by about 20 minutes and did not perform CPR, and a state Department of Human Services investigation found staff falsified check records and did not follow suicide-prevention policies.
Reported by: Woods' estate (federal lawsuit and notice of tort claim) (family or their lawyers); Oklahoma Department of Human Services Office of Client Advocacy (outside investigators); Muskogee police incident report.
Lawsuit: His estate filed a federal lawsuit over his 2016 suicide at a Muskogee County juvenile detention center, and the case is ongoing with no settlement or award reported.
Sources (5)
- DHS report: Abuse, lack of supervision found in juvenile facility where teenager died
- Estate of 16-year-old who died in juvenile facility claim negligence, inhumane treatment led to his death
- Teen’s death in juvenile detention center result of neglect, indifference, lawsuit claims
- Records: Juvenile detention center staff failed to follow protocol in teen’s death
- Records: Muskogee juvenile detention center staff failed to follow protocol in teen’s death | Oklahoma