Dean Kenneth Butterfield
Dean Butterfield was a 59-year-old auto mechanic from Nevada, Missouri, who worked long hours in his shop and was remembered by friends as a man who never turned away anyone who asked him for help. He died in October 2024 at the Vernon County Jail, where he was held before trial. His family and former cellmates told the Kansas City Star that he repeatedly asked for medical care for a large hernia and was kept in a separate room for about a week before he died. A preliminary autopsy sent to his sister, according to a Missouri State Highway Patrol investigator, pointed to a fatal heart attack, and the family says the sheriff's office has not responded to their records request for official reports.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of illness (neglect alleged). The Missouri State Highway Patrol's preliminary autopsy points to a fatal heart attack, but his family and former cellmates say he repeatedly asked for medical care for a large hernia and was kept in a separate room for about a week before he died.
Reported by: Missouri State Highway Patrol (Sgt. Jones, preliminary autopsy sent to his sister) (outside investigators).