Hailey Povisil
Hailey Povisil, 21, of Wilkes-Barre, was held at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility in January 2018 and was found unresponsive in her cell on January 9; she was pronounced dead at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital. The Luzerne County coroner's office ruled her death a suicide caused by asphyxia due to hanging. Her family's lawsuit against Luzerne County, Correct Care Solutions and Wellpath says a corrections officer told her to kill herself, that she was taken off suicide watch that day, and that she was denied medical care during withdrawal. The lawsuit also alleges a pattern of failures in suicide prevention at the facility, and the county and Wellpath settled the case for $780,000 in 2023 without admitting liability.
Cause of death, as reported: Died by suicide (disputed; neglect alleged). The Luzerne County coroner ruled her death a suicide by hanging, while her family's lawsuit alleges a corrections officer told her to kill herself, she was taken off suicide watch the day she died, and staff denied her care during opioid withdrawal.
Reported by: Luzerne County coroner's office (medical examiner or coroner); Her family's lawsuit against Luzerne County, Correct Care Solutions and Wellpath (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: Her family sued Luzerne County and Wellpath over her death, and the county council approved a $780,000 settlement in March 2023; the defendants have not been found liable.