Christopher Hankins
Christopher Hankins, 34, was held at the Snohomish County Jail in Washington while awaiting trial. On September 16, 2020, he was found unresponsive in his cell around 5 a.m., and the sheriff's office said there were no apparent signs of an obvious cause of death. His mother has sued the county, and her attorney, Melanie Nguyen, says jail staff were negligent after he was found slumped on his bunk and medical staff left him. The medical examiner found the cause of death to be acute heroin intoxication, and the county has asked the court to drop parts of the case.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of an overdose (disputed; neglect alleged). The medical examiner found acute heroin intoxication, but Hankins' mother, through her attorney Melanie Nguyen, alleges in a lawsuit against Snohomish County that jail staff were negligent after he was found slumped on his bunk and medical staff left him before he was later found unresponsive.
Reported by: Snohomish County medical examiner (medical examiner or coroner); Melanie Nguyen, attorney for Hankins' mother, in a lawsuit against Snohomish County (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His mother sued Snohomish County over his death at the Snohomish County Jail, and the county has asked the court to drop parts of the case; no settlement or award has been reported.