Daniel Foard
Daniel Foard, 32, worked as a cook at a brewpub, and his parents want people to know about the ordeal he went through. He was taken into custody at the La Plata County jail in Durango and died in his cell there in August 2023, six days after arrival. An autopsy found an ulcer had burned a hole in his small intestine, and the medical examiner ruled the death natural. His parents' federal lawsuit alleges that nurses and deputies ignored about 15 hours of his pleas for help, and that the contracted health provider kept too few nurses on duty; the county said it had not analyzed those allegations, and the county later agreed to a $5 million settlement that does not resolve claims against the medical contractor.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of illness (disputed; neglect alleged). The medical examiner ruled the death natural from an ulcer that perforated his small intestine, but his parents' federal lawsuit says nurses and deputies ignored about 15 hours of his pleas for help and the contracted health provider kept too few nurses on duty.
Reported by: Dr. Michael Arnall (medical examiner or coroner); his parents' federal lawsuit (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His estate sued in federal court over the care he received at the La Plata County jail, and the county agreed to a $5 million settlement that does not resolve claims against the jail's medical contractor.