Brenda Sewell
Brenda Sewell, 58, was held at the Sherman County Jail in Goodland, Kansas, where her family says she grew sicker over about two days, repeatedly asked for her medications and a doctor, and vomited blood. Her son Aaron Ray said she would be alive if staff had listened, and her family says jail staff did not give her medications because they could not identify the pills. She was taken to Goodland Regional Medical Center and returned to her cell, and she died on January 22, 2014. The sheriff's office said EMS was called for a person in medical distress, and the Sherman County coroner's autopsy listed natural causes, with a ruptured spleen and vomiting as contributing factors; the family disputes whether she received timely care, and a Douglas County review noted some delay in summoning help.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of illness (disputed; neglect alleged). Coroner Lyle Noordhoek ruled the death natural from internal bleeding caused by a ruptured spleen, but her family disputes that finding and says jail staff ignored her requests for a doctor and her medications and delayed help as she died.
Reported by: Sherman County coroner Lyle Noordhoek (medical examiner or coroner); Brenda Sewell's family (family or their lawyers).
Custody: Awaiting trial.