Darryl Big Leggins
Darryl Big Leggins, a man from Hays, Montana, was treated like an elder and seemed to be respected by staff and other people held at the facility, according to testimony from the investigating state agent. He died on February 10, 2022, while in custody at the Valley County Detention Center, which held him under a contract with the Montana Department of Corrections. Days earlier he had been seen at an emergency room for symptoms including fever and sagging lips. Sheriff Tom Boyer said the death appeared to be from natural causes, and a coroner's inquest in February 2023 accepted testimony that he died of endocarditis causing sepsis and found no neglect by detention staff.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of illness. Sheriff Tom Boyer said the death appeared natural, while the state medical examiner and a coroner's inquest jury attributed it to endocarditis that caused sepsis and found no neglect by detention staff.
Reported by: Sheriff Tom Boyer (the agency that held him); state medical examiner Dr. Walter Kemp (medical examiner or coroner); Montana Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation agent Noah Scott (outside investigators); coroner's inquest jury (court).