Brandon Washington
Brandon Washington, 28, of Rochelle, Illinois, died at the DeKalb County Jail in February 2016. An autopsy found that a heroin overdose caused his death. His mother, Sophia Thomas, has sued the sheriff, the county and the Sheriff's Office, saying jail officials failed to stop drugs from being smuggled in and failed to act quickly. An Illinois State Police investigation cleared jail officials of wrongdoing.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of an overdose (disputed; neglect alleged). The autopsy found a heroin overdose caused the death, while his mother Sophia Thomas's lawsuit says jail officials failed to stop drugs from being smuggled in and failed to act quickly.
Reported by: autopsy; Sophia Thomas, his mother, through her lawsuit (family or their lawyers); Illinois State Police investigation (outside investigators).
Lawsuit: His mother, Sophia Thomas, sued the DeKalb County sheriff, the county and the Sheriff's Office over his death, and no payment amount has been reported.