Demetrius Stephenson
Demetrius Stephenson, 18, died by suicide in his cell at the Calumet County Jail in Wisconsin on August 21, 2019. His estate's lawsuit says he told other people held at the jail, guards and medical staff over nearly four months that he heard voices telling him to kill himself, and that he was not referred for medical or psychiatric treatment. The estate sued Calumet County, several jail and county health staff, and Advanced Correctional Healthcare, alleging deliberate indifference to his mental health needs, and its statement calls his death preventable. The county says its staff did their best and that the death could not be avoided, and a federal jury deadlocked in August 2025, leading the judge to declare a mistrial.
Cause of death, as reported: Died by suicide (neglect alleged). His estate's lawsuit says jail staff knew he heard voices telling him to kill himself over nearly four months but did not refer him for medical or psychiatric treatment.
Reported by: estate of Demetrius Stephenson, through a federal lawsuit (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His estate sued Calumet County and county social workers in federal court over his death in the Calumet County Jail, and a jury deadlocked before a mistrial was declared in 2025, with no settlement or award reported.
Sources (7)
- News report
- Family says Calumet County Jail staff, medical staff ignored teen's promise of suicide
- Trial set to begin in death liability lawsuit against Calumet County, social workers
- Federal trial begins in wrongful death lawsuit over suicide in Calumet County Jail
- Jury deadlock leads to mistrial in wrongful death suit for Calumet County Jail suicide
- Three social workers, Calumet County ask judge to decide Demetrius Stephenson jail death case