Dean Funabiki
Dean Funabiki was a 67-year-old psychologist from Pullman, Washington. In 2018 he was found hanging in his cell at the Whitman County jail and died on the way to the hospital. His family says jail staff placed him in general population instead of on suicide watch despite his apparent suicidal state, and they have filed a tort claim seeking about $1 million. The county prosecutor says the county is not at fault.
Cause of death, as reported: Died by suicide (disputed; neglect alleged). The family says jail staff placed Funabiki in general population instead of suicide watch despite his apparent suicidal state, and they filed a tort claim seeking about $1 million; the county prosecutor says the county is not at fault.
Reported by: family; county prosecutor.
Lawsuit: His family filed a tort claim seeking about $1 million against Whitman County after he was found hanging in the county jail in 2018, and the county prosecutor says the county is not at fault.