D’Vonte Valentine
Dvonte Marquese Valentine died at the Smith County Jail in Tyler, Texas, in early December 2022. He had congenital adrenal hyperplasia, a rare genetic disorder that required steroid medication to stay alive, according to a federal lawsuit brought by his family's lawyer, Dean Malone. The lawsuit says jail staff never gave him the medication, which was stored with his other property, and that jailers found him unresponsive on November 28, 2022. His family removed him from life support on December 4, and an autopsy cited in the lawsuit concluded he was never given his medication while incarcerated, though it said it is uncertain whether the jail knew of his condition. Smith County and Turn Key Health declined to comment, citing ongoing litigation.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of illness (neglect alleged). The family's lawyer, Dean Malone, says jail staff never gave him the steroid medication his adrenal condition required and that the medication was stored with his other property, and the lawsuit cites an autopsy finding he was never given it while incarcerated.
Reported by: the family's lawyer, Dean Malone, and their federal lawsuit (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His family sued Smith County and Turn Key Health in federal court over his death, alleging jail staff never gave him the steroid medication he needed for congenital adrenal hyperplasia; the defendants declined comment citing ongoing litigation and no settlement or award is reported.