Huan Pham
Huan Pham was 43. Deputies found him unresponsive in his cell at the Sarpy County Correctional Center in Papillion, Nebraska, in August 2023, and he died. Prosecutors allege that a verbal argument between Pham and other men held at the jail escalated into a physical fight in which they assaulted him, and that they then tried to cover up his death. Three men have been charged, and prosecutors say they did not believe the assault was premeditated. Defense attorneys argue the evidence points to a mutual fight rather than a homicide.
Cause of death, as reported: Killed by another person in custody. Sarpy County prosecutors allege three fellow inmates assaulted Huan Pham after a verbal argument turned into a fight, then tried to cover up his death; the charged men have not had the allegations tested in court.
Reported by: Sarpy County prosecutors (deputy county attorney Tyler Loontjer); Sarpy County Sheriff's Office (the agency that held him); WOWT (reporters).
News reports (12)
- Inmates charged in relation to another inmate's death at Sarpy County jail
- Sarpy County inmate dies in-custody
- Public opening of Sarpy County Correctional Center canceled after inmate death
- Three Sarpy County inmates accused in relation to another inmate's death held on bond
- Three charged in Sarpy County inmate’s death appear in court
- One of the suspects charged in connection to murder at Sarpy County Jail will stand trial
- Suspect charged with second-degree murder in death of Sarpy County inmate will go to trial
- Sarpy County inmate charged in inmate’s death has accessory charge dismissed
- One of three men charged in Sarpy inmate’s death pleads guilty to amended charge
- One of three inmates charged in relation to another inmate's death pleads guilty to manslaughter
- Last of 3 suspects in Sarpy County inmate death pleads ‘no contest’
- Sarpy County inmate sentenced in fellow inmate’s death