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Died in jail or a lockup

Isaiah Trammell

19 years old · died March 16, 2023 · Montgomery County Jail, Montgomery County, Ohio

Isaiah Trammell was 19 and autistic, a young musician who loved his family and friends and dreamed of becoming a music artist, his family says. He was held at the Montgomery County Jail in Dayton, Ohio, in March 2023, and he died three days after being taken to a hospital. The county coroner ruled the cause complications of blunt force head trauma and the manner suicide, while his family says staff ignored his cries for help and put him in a restraint chair twice. A sheriff's office risk management report says he was held alone on suicide precautions and refused a blanket, a mat and a phone call, and the sheriff's office says he injured himself and that staff provided treatment. The family has filed a federal lawsuit against the county and its medical contractor, and a jail monitoring coalition has called for a state investigation.

Cause of death, as reported: Died by suicide (disputed; neglect alleged). The coroner ruled the death a suicide from complications of blunt force head trauma, while his family's lawsuit says jail staff ignored his cries for help and refused him a blanket, mat and phone call, and the Montgomery County Jail Coalition rejects the suicide finding and calls for a state investigation.

Reported by: Montgomery County Coroner (medical examiner or coroner); Montgomery County Sheriff's Office (the agency that held him); his family and their lawsuit; Montgomery County Jail Coalition (advocates).

Lawsuit: His family sued Montgomery County and its medical contractor in federal court in 2025 (Trammell v. Montgomery County), and no settlement or award has been reported. Court records: Trammell v. Montgomery County (S.D. Ohio, 2025); Trammell v. Montgomery County (S.D. Ohio, 2025).

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