Christopher Shawn Berry
Christopher Shawn Berry, a man from Culpeper, died in 2014 while held at the Central Virginia Regional Jail in Orange. His mother, Sherry Thornhill, filed a federal lawsuit claiming jailers ignored clear signs of severe alcohol and heroin withdrawal, including vomiting, diarrhea, seizures and dehydration, and knew he would be going through withdrawal. The family later received a $725,000 settlement to be paid by the state Compensation Board, and the lawsuit was withdrawn. Other details of the settlement were not available, and the allegations are the mother's claims.
Cause of death, as reported: Died from neglect by staff. His mother's federal lawsuit says jailers ignored clear signs of severe alcohol and heroin withdrawal, including vomiting, seizures and dehydration, although they knew he would be going through withdrawal.
Reported by: his mother Sherry Thornhill's federal lawsuit (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His mother, Sherry Thornhill, sued over his death at the Central Virginia Regional Jail and the family received a $725,000 settlement paid by the state Compensation Board.