Christian Black
Christian Black, 25, of Zanesville, loved his family and friends, sports and good food, his father Kenya Black said. He died on March 26, 2025, two days after being taken from the Montgomery County Jail in Dayton, Ohio, to a hospital, and his family was told that his lungs and a kidney he donated saved three lives. The sheriff's office said jail staff used a Taser and pepper spray and placed him in a restraint chair. His family says staff pressed on his back and waited several minutes before starting CPR while he was unresponsive, and their attorneys say jail medical staff delayed lifesaving care. The county coroner ruled the death a homicide from mechanical and positional asphyxia and the county approved a $7 million settlement with the family, while NaphCare, the jail's health care provider, disputes the delay claim and says its staff acted quickly and appropriately; no one has been criminally charged.
Cause of death, as reported: Killed by staff (disputed; neglect alleged). The Montgomery County Coroner ruled the death a homicide from mechanical and positional asphyxia after staff restrained him in a restraint chair, and the family's attorneys say staff delayed lifesaving CPR and did not follow proper policies while subduing him, which the family contends amounts to neglect; a lawsuit against NaphCare alleges delayed care.
Reported by: Montgomery County Coroner's Office (medical examiner or coroner); family attorney Robert Gresham (family or their lawyers); Montgomery County Sheriff's Office (the agency that held him).
Lawsuit: His family settled with Montgomery County, Ohio, for $7 million and sued NaphCare, the jail's health care provider, alleging delayed care and negligence.
Sources (16)
- Attorneys for Christian Black family plan independent investigation; burial is Friday
- Man's death at Montgomery County Jail likely from positional asphyxia, investigation continues
- 10 Ohio jail staff placed on leave after inmate dies following restraint chair use
- Family of man who died in jail custody seeking charges
- ‘Murdered right in front of our eyes;’ Family of man who died in jail custody calling for charges
- Family seeks murder charges after coroner rules Ohio inmate's death was homicide
- A family says Ohio jail guards stood by as a restrained man who later died lost consciousness - WOUB Public Media -
- Kansas City area couple wants changes for restraint chair use after nephew’s death
- Family of Christian Black files lawsuit against NaphCare after jail custody death
- Ohio county agrees to $7M settlement over Christian Black’s death after jail guards restrained him, family says
- ‘Record-setting’ settlement reached after man dies in jail custody
- $7 million settlement reached for family after restraint chair death
- Montgomery County Jail settles $7M lawsuit with the family of Christian Black
- Family ‘deeply disappointed’ after jailers avoid charges for man’s in-custody death, lawyers say
- Montgomery County commissioner calls for reviews of jail after recent deaths
- Montgomery County commissioner calls on state, local agencies to ‘conduct comprehensive reviews’ of county jail