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Died in jail or a lockup

Brenden Kiekisz

27 years old · died December 30, 2018 · Cuyahoga County Corrections Center, Cuyahoga County, Ohio

Brenden Kiekisz, 27, was held at the Cuyahoga County Jail in Cleveland in December 2018. His brother, Brett Kiekisz, spoke publicly about his death. Cleveland.com reported that he was found hanging in his cell on December 27 and died at a hospital three days later after being kept on life support, and the death was recorded as a suicide. His family's lawsuit says he told jail staff on arrival that he had attempted suicide two days earlier and had bipolar disorder, but that he was not seen by mental health staff and was placed in the general population. A U.S. Marshals Service review, as reported by cleveland.com, found understaffing and inadequate mental health care at the jail, and the county later agreed to a $2.1 million settlement with his family.

Cause of death, as reported: Died by suicide (disputed; neglect alleged). Cuyahoga County jail records and former warden Eric Ivey describe a hanging suicide, while his family's lawsuit says jail staff skipped his booking medical screening and placed him in general population despite his reported recent suicide attempt and bipolar disorder, and an officer found him unconscious in his cell.

Reported by: Cuyahoga County Jail (the agency that held him); former warden Eric Ivey (the agency that held him); family's lawsuit and attorney Paul Cristallo (family or their lawyers); cleveland.com reporting (reporters); U.S. Marshals Service review (outside investigators); county investigative records.

Lawsuit: His family sued Cuyahoga County over his death and the county settled for $2.1 million.

Sources (9)

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