Cody Franklin
Cody Franklin was 20 years old and, according to his family, liked to hunt and fish, loved animals, and was about to become a father. He died in May 2016 after being held at the Franklin County jail in Arkansas. Sheriff Anthony Boen's office said jailers found him unresponsive a few hours after he was taken into custody on the night of May 10, and he died at a hospital. His family's lawsuit says jail and city officers tased him repeatedly, choked him unconscious after a fight in a cell and held him down. The medical examiner listed restraint, exertion and multiple Taser applications among the causes of death, and the Arkansas State Police investigated.
Cause of death, as reported: Killed by staff (disputed). The medical examiner listed methamphetamine intoxication, exertion, struggle, restraint and multiple Taser applications as causes, while his family's civil lawsuit says jail and city officers repeatedly tased him and choked him unconscious, which the medical examiner's report did not mention.
Reported by: Medical examiner's office (medical examiner or coroner); Franklin family civil lawsuit (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His family sued jail and city officers over his death, and no defendant has been found liable in the reported suits.