Brittany Berry Schlarb
Brittany Berry Schlarb, 35, was held at the Summit County Jail in Akron, Ohio, when she died on June 25, 2018. Her mother said Brittany dreamed of opening and running her own salon, and that after years of addiction she had gotten her children back and earned an associate's degree in marketing. She was withdrawing from methamphetamine in her cell, and over four days she was vomiting and dizzy; her family's lawsuit says her only treatment was advice to drink more water. She was found unconscious in her cell on the evening of June 25. The medical examiner's autopsy listed dehydration due to complications of methamphetamine detoxification in custody as the cause of death, the family's attorneys alleged inadequate care, and the lawsuit settled for $625,000, while the Summit County Sheriff's Office investigated her death.
Cause of death, as reported: Died from neglect by staff (disputed). The medical examiner's autopsy lists dehydration from methamphetamine detoxification in custody as the cause, and her family's lawyers allege jail staff gave inadequate care for withdrawal, which the family's lawsuit settled for $625,000.
Reported by: Summit County Medical Examiner (medical examiner or coroner); Family attorneys and lawsuit (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: Her family sued over her care in the Summit County Jail and the lawsuit settled for $625,000.