Brandon Ryans
Brandon Ryans, 41, was remembered by his sister Raychelle Couey as sensitive, loving and a good person, and a former neighbor recalled him as a nice guy who was always considerate. County news releases say he died by suicide in his cell at the Spokane County Jail, hanging himself with a bedsheet. Jail and state hospital staff had observed a pattern of suicidal behavior in the months before his death, and his family says the warning signs were not taken seriously enough. His sisters say he was still struggling after a hospital stay and was sent back to the jail despite the risk.
Cause of death, as reported: Died by suicide (disputed; neglect alleged). Spokane County Detention Services and jail news releases say he died by suicide by hanging himself with a bed sheet, while his family's account says jail and state hospital staff ignored repeated warning signs and sent him back to jail despite the risk.
Reported by: Spokane County Detention Services (the agency that held him); Spokane County news releases (the agency that held him); his family.
Sources (3)
- Families reeling after three men hang themselves with bedsheets in Spokane County Jail during past year - The Spokesman-Review
- Spokane County Jail removing bedsheets, hiring suicide-prevention expert after three inmates hanged themselves in a year - The Spokesman-Review
- Inmate death in Spokane County Jail is the seventh in the past 14 months