Christian Black
Christian Black, 25, was held at the Montgomery County Jail in Ohio in March 2025. The sheriff's office says he had repeated confrontations with staff and that staff used a Taser, pepper spray and a restraint chair; his family says he was pinned down and placed in the chair, where he became unresponsive for about nine minutes before CPR began, and that jail medical staff delayed lifesaving care. He was taken to a hospital and died there on March 26, 2025. The Montgomery County Coroner ruled the death a homicide from positional and mechanical asphyxia, the county agreed to a $7 million settlement with his family, and the Dayton Police Department's investigation is ongoing.
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 while jail staff restrained him in a restraint chair, and his family's attorneys say staff delayed lifesaving care and did not follow proper policies, which the family disputes through a settlement-linked lawsuit and calls for criminal charges.
Reported by: Montgomery County Coroner's Office (medical examiner or coroner); Montgomery County Sheriff's Office (the agency that held him); family and attorney Robert Gresham (family or their lawyers); Dayton Police Department (outside investigators).
Lawsuit: His family reached a $7 million settlement with Montgomery County, Ohio, and sued NaphCare, the jail's health care provider, alleging delayed care and negligence.
Sources (17)
- 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
- Ohio county agrees to $7M settlement over man'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