George Benfield
George Benfield, 43, died on January 20, 2024, in the Mecklenburg County jail in Charlotte, North Carolina, hours after he was admitted, according to medical documents. His mother's federal wrongful death lawsuit says jail staff found him unresponsive in his cell and waited more than 35 minutes before acting to save him. The lawsuit and medical documents link his death to cardiac arrest from a fentanyl overdose. His mother filed the lawsuit seeking accountability for his death. The sheriff's office declined to comment, citing pending litigation.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of an overdose (neglect alleged). Medical documents attribute his death to cardiac arrest linked to a fentanyl overdose, and his mother's lawsuit says jail staff found him unresponsive in his cell and waited more than 35 minutes before giving life-saving measures.
Reported by: his mother's federal wrongful death lawsuit (family or their lawyers); medical documents.
Lawsuit: His mother filed a federal wrongful death lawsuit over his death in the Mecklenburg County jail, and no settlement or award amount has been reported.