Deaths in CustodyWork in progressIn progress
Died in prison

Brandon Pace

37 years old · died April 7, 2023 · Tipton Correctional Center, Moniteau County, Missouri

Brandon Pace died on April 7, 2023, while held at the Tipton Correctional Center in Missouri. His mother, Tammy Reed, filed a federal wrongful death lawsuit against the Missouri Department of Corrections, which says officers placed him in a holding cell and sprayed him with an excessive dose of pepper spray while his hands were restrained and his legs shackled. The lawsuit also says staff ignored his cries for help for about four hours. The autopsy by Keith Norman Norton, M.D., ruled the death accidental and attributed it to methamphetamine intoxication; Reed disputes that finding and says the autopsy omits his medical history. The department declined to comment on the pending litigation and has not released video or other records of the events.

Cause of death, as reported: Died of an overdose (disputed; neglect alleged). The Boone/Callaway Medical Examiner's Office ruled the death accidental from methamphetamine intoxication, while his mother's federal lawsuit says officers pepper-sprayed him while he was restrained and ignored his cries for help for about four hours, and disputes the autopsy.

Reported by: Boone/Callaway Medical Examiner's Office (medical examiner or coroner); Tammy Reed, his mother, in a federal wrongful death lawsuit against the Missouri Department of Corrections (family or their lawyers).

Lawsuit: His mother, Tammy Reed, sued in federal court in September 2024 over his death, naming the Missouri Department of Corrections, and jury selection in her case against Centurion Health and three nurses began in July 2026, with no award or settlement amount reported.

Sources (8)

See on the national mapAll records

Questions, a correction, or a death I’ve missed? Email me at orion.j.taylor@gmail.com.