Cassandra McDonald
Cassandra McDonald, 35, was held at Lake Region Correctional Center in Devils Lake, North Dakota, from November 4, 2023, after a suicide attempt. Her family's federal lawsuit says she was found unresponsive in her cell on November 8, 2023, and died at Sanford hospital in Fargo two days later, on November 10. The estate's complaint, filed by Evelyn McDonald and Julie Sailor, alleges that staff and medical providers failed to provide adequate care and supervision despite known mental health issues. The lawsuit is brought on behalf of her three children, who were juveniles at the time, and the defendants have not yet responded in court.
Cause of death, as reported: Died by suicide (disputed; neglect alleged). The estate's federal lawsuit, filed by Evelyn McDonald and Julie Sailor, says ligature strangulation after hanging and says staff and medical providers failed to provide adequate care and supervision despite known mental health issues.
Reported by: complaint filed by the estate of McDonald, through Evelyn McDonald and Julie Sailor (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: Her family filed a federal lawsuit alleging that staff and medical providers failed to provide adequate care and supervision despite known mental health issues, and no amount has been reported.