Jacob Ziliak
Jacob Ziliak, 37, died on August 19, 2022, at Deaconess Midtown hospital in Evansville, Indiana, after being held at the Vanderburgh County Jail. His mother, Cindy Ziliak, remembers him as artistic, someone who liked working with his hands and who loved his Harley motorcycle. His attorney, citing the official cause of death, says he died of staphylococcus aureus sepsis, pneumonia with necrosis, dehydration and malnutrition. His family and attorney say he developed a fever and worsening illness, was not taken to a hospital for days, and that jail staff missed required checks. A federal court granted summary judgment to the sheriff's office in February 2026, finding no evidence its policy or practice caused his injury, while the case against the jail's medical contractor, Quality Correctional Care, continues, and the contractor declined to give patient-specific details.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of illness (disputed; neglect alleged). The official cause was sepsis and pneumonia with dehydration and malnutrition, but his mother and attorney Jeremy Schnepper say jail staff missed required checks and did not send him to a hospital for days.
Reported by: official cause of death, as cited by his attorney (medical examiner or coroner); his mother; attorney Jeremy Schnepper (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His mother sued Vanderburgh County and a former jail commander, and a federal court granted summary judgment to the sheriff's office, while the lawsuit against medical contractor Quality Correctional Care continues toward trial.