Chris Howard
Chris Howard, 23, was held at the Gwinnett County jail in Georgia in February 2017, when he had a seizure. His girlfriend, Laurel Kate Anderson, remembers him as always healthy and recalls the happy days they spent together at Lake Lanier. The medical examiner attributed his death to complications of a genetic disorder, medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency, and did not know about the delay in getting him medical care. His family's lawsuit says deputies ignored a doctor's order to take him to the infirmary immediately, placed him in an observation cell instead of a hospital, and delayed medical care while he went into cardiac arrest. The sheriff's office has said it cannot comment on pending litigation.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of illness (disputed; neglect alleged). The medical examiner ruled his death natural, from complications of a genetic disorder, while his family's lawsuit says deputies ignored a doctor's order to take him to the infirmary immediately and delayed care after he collapsed in a seizure.
Reported by: Gwinnett County medical examiner (medical examiner or coroner); his family's lawsuit (family or their lawyers); Gwinnett Medical Center doctors; Gwinnett County Sheriff's Office (the agency that held him).
Lawsuit: His family filed a notice of claim and a lawsuit over his death, demanding $10 million, and no settlement or award is reported.