Jaden Antoine Johnson
Jaden Antoine Johnson, 19, was held at the Buchanan County Jail in Independence, Iowa, pretrial. The Buchanan County Sheriff's office said he was found dead in his cell early on Saturday, May 7, 2022, that emergency crews tried to save him, and that the death appears to be suicide by asphyxiation, with an autopsy pending. His parents, Ashley and Douglas Johnson, have sued Buchanan County, saying jail staff failed to protect him from self-harm despite a friend's warning that he was suicidal. The lawsuit also says required hourly cell checks were repeatedly not done and that he was not screened for suicide risk.
Cause of death, as reported: Died by suicide (disputed; neglect alleged). The sheriff's office says the death appears to be suicide by asphyxiation, but his parents' wrongful death lawsuit says jail staff failed to protect him from self-harm despite a friend's warning, skipped required hourly cell checks and did not screen him for suicide risk.
Reported by: Buchanan County Sheriff's Office (the agency that held him); Ashley and Douglas Johnson, his parents, in their wrongful death lawsuit (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His parents, Ashley and Douglas Johnson, sued Buchanan County, alleging jail staff failed to protect him from self-harm despite a friend's warning that he was suicidal.