Derek Brandes
Derek Brandes, 36, died on March 19, 2022, while held in the Bryan County Jail in Oklahoma, about nine hours after he was taken there. He was found unresponsive in his cell and taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. His family's wrongful death lawsuit, which names the sheriff, a jail officer and Turn Key Health Clinics, says he swallowed a bag of methamphetamine and told staff he had done so. The sheriff has said no one was informed of this. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation is investigating the death, and that investigation remains open.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of an overdose (disputed; neglect alleged). The family's wrongful death lawsuit says he swallowed a bag of methamphetamine, told staff he had consumed it, and that staff did not act on this; the sheriff says no one was informed, and OSBI's investigation remains open.
Reported by: family's wrongful death lawsuit (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His family filed a wrongful death lawsuit naming the Bryan County sheriff, a jail officer and Turn Key Health Clinics over his death in the Bryan County Jail, and no settlement or award amount is reported.