Deaths in Custody
Died in custody

Irvo Otieno

28 years old · died March 6, 2023 · Central State Hospital, Dinwiddie County, Virginia

Irvo Otieno, 28, a Black man who came to the United States from Kenya at age four, grew up in suburban Richmond, where his family said he loved sports, music and the beach and was working toward a career in hip-hop and his own record label. His mother described him as a good listener and a leader, and said he had lived with mental illness and that she had sought help for him in early March 2023. His family's attorney said he had not been given the medication he needed for his mental illness while in the Henrico County Jail. On March 6, 2023, he died while deputies were admitting him to Central State Hospital in Dinwiddie County, and the Dinwiddie County Commonwealth's Attorney said seven sheriff's deputies held him face down on the floor for about 12 minutes and that the preliminary cause of death was asphyxia by smothering. Police said he became combative and was restrained, an account his family disputes based on surveillance video, while the defense has argued the death was a cardiac event; seven deputies and three hospital employees were charged with second-degree murder, one former hospital employee was acquitted, and charges against two deputies were later dropped.

Cause of death, as reported: Killed by staff (disputed; neglect alleged). Prosecutors say deputies and hospital staff held him face down and smothered him, while defense lawyers dispute that the force was unlawful or intended to harm, and his family says he was not given medication he needed for his mental illness while in jail.

Reported by: Dinwiddie County Commonwealth's Attorney Ann Cabell Baskervill; Virginia State Police (outside investigators); Henrico County Sheriff's Office (the agency that held him); family's lawyer Mark Krudys (family or their lawyers); Benjamin Crump, the family's attorney (family or their lawyers); grand jury indictment.

Lawsuit: His family reached an $8.5 million settlement in September 2023 with the state, Henrico County and the Henrico Sheriff, and the agreement says those parties deny their actions caused his death.

News reports (24)

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