Deaths in CustodyWork in progressIn progress
Died in jail or a lockup

Gregory Davis

53 years old · died August 12, 2021 · Oklahoma County Detention Center, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma

Gregory Davis, a man of 53, died on August 12, 2021, at the Oklahoma County Detention Center, where staff found him unresponsive in his cell during a mental health check and he was pronounced dead at a hospital. His brother, Garland Hunt, said Davis did not have any enemies, was always nice to people, and was a loving person. An autopsy found a perforated ulcer and COVID-19, and the family's attorneys say he was housed for mental health reasons and never received a full medical assessment. A federal jury awarded the family $2 million against the Oklahoma County Criminal Justice Authority, finding that jail staff missed sight checks and that he placed hundreds of calls for help as he lay dying, while the jail says it has since made operational and clinical changes.

Cause of death, as reported: Died of illness (disputed; neglect alleged). The autopsy found a perforated ulcer and COVID-19, but Davis's family's lawsuit says jail staff housed him for mental health reasons without a full medical assessment, missed sight checks, and ignored his calls for help, and a federal jury awarded the family $2 million.

Reported by: autopsy; Davis's family's attorneys (family or their lawyers); federal jury in the family's lawsuit (court).

Lawsuit: His family sued in federal court and a jury awarded them $2 million against the Oklahoma County Criminal Justice Authority, finding that detention officers missed sight checks that could have saved him.

Sources (12)

See on the national mapAll records

Questions, a correction, or a death I’ve missed? Email me at orion.j.taylor@gmail.com.