Deaths in CustodyWork in progressIn progress
Died in jail or a lockup

Cory Cantrell

23 years old · died June 18, 2022 · Scioto County Jail, Scioto County, Ohio

Cory Cantrell, 23, of Franklin Furnace, Ohio, died on June 18, 2022, after an overdose at the Scioto County Jail. The sheriff's office said the overdose was believed to be fentanyl left in the jail by another person held there. His half-sister, Jessie Cantrell, has sued Scioto County and several officials in federal court, saying he overdosed three times earlier in his stay, that staff reversed two of those with Narcan, and that officers were aware he was in trouble and acted too late. The lawsuit says guards failed to search another person held there thoroughly and that staff did not get Cory timely treatment or Narcan despite warnings from other people in the jail. Officers say they found him without a pulse and did not give Narcan, the defendants say no procedure can catch all contraband, and a federal judge dismissed all but one officer from the lawsuit, a ruling now being appealed.

Cause of death, as reported: Died of an overdose (disputed; neglect alleged). The sheriff's office says Cantrell was found unresponsive after a fentanyl overdose, and his half-sister's lawsuit says officers were warned and acted too late and did not give Narcan, while the defendants say no search procedure catches all contraband.

Reported by: Scioto County Sheriff's Office (the agency that held him); his half-sister, Jessie Cantrell, in her federal lawsuit (family or their lawyers); attorneys for the county and officials named in the lawsuit.

Lawsuit: His half-sister, Jessie Cantrell, sued Scioto County and jail officers in federal court over his fatal overdose, and a federal judge dismissed all but one officer, a ruling now being appealed; no settlement or award amount is reported.

Sources (3)

See on the national mapAll records

Questions, a correction, or a death I’ve missed? Email me at orion.j.taylor@gmail.com.