Dezmen McBride
Dezmen McBride, 18, was the youngest of seven children and the father of a six-month-old daughter, and his family says he was days away from his 19th birthday. He died on June 5, 2021, while held at the Jefferson County jail in Arkansas; one report says he asked to be taken to the hospital before he died. A preliminary autopsy lists the cause of death as undetermined, and the sheriff's office says the final autopsy has not been completed. His family's attorney says an internal investigation found he was left naked and alone after a head injury, and that it is unclear when that injury happened; the family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit, and the sheriff's office has not been quoted addressing these claims.
Cause of death, as reported: Died from neglect by staff. The family's attorney says an internal investigation found Dezman McBride was mistreated, including being left naked and alone after a head injury, and a jail report says he asked to be taken to the hospital before he died.
Reported by: Jefferson County Sheriff's Office (the agency that held him); family attorney Chris Burks (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office in May 2022, and no settlement or award amount has been reported.