Douglas Blaney
Douglas Blaney, 42, was the father of LaTasha Blaney, his only child, who said he was young and healthy. He suffered a heart attack while held at the Chemung County Jail in Elmira on January 4, 2023, and died three days later at Arnot Ogden Medical Center. A state Commission on Correction report found lapses and deficiencies in the medical care he received before the heart attack, and the New York Attorney General's Office of Special Investigation lists his death as a medical death. LaTasha Blaney has filed a notice of claim alleging negligence by Chemung County, the sheriff's office, the jail and ten corrections officers, and says the family's questions about how he died have gone unanswered. The county has not commented on the claims.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of illness (disputed; neglect alleged). The state Commission on Correction found lapses in the medical care Blaney received before his heart attack, and his daughter's notice of claim alleges the county and jail were negligent.
Reported by: New York State Office of the Attorney General, Office of Special Investigation (outside investigators); Commission on Correction (outside investigators); daughter LaTasha Blaney and attorney Mark Shirian (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His daughter, LaTasha Blaney, filed a notice of claim alleging negligence against Chemung County, the sheriff's office, the jail and 10 corrections officers, and the allegations have not been tested in court.