Jaimeson Cody
Jaimeson Cody, 39, was a father of two, and his mother, Cindy Cody, said the family loved him, that he had good qualities, and that his children mattered to them. He died in April 2021 after being held at the Sangamon County Jail in Illinois, where officers restrained him and used Tasers on him. The county coroner classified the death as a homicide, citing restraint asphyxia, and said the term does not imply criminal intent. The sheriff's office said officers acted to stop Cody from harming himself. His family's wrongful-death lawsuit alleges that three officers held him face down on the concrete floor for several minutes, used Tasers on him four more times, and that he then stopped breathing, while the state's attorney has requested an independent review.
Cause of death, as reported: Killed by staff (disputed; neglect alleged). The Sangamon County coroner classified the death as a homicide from restraint asphyxia with methamphetamine intoxication, while the family's wrongful-death lawsuit says three officers held him face down on the concrete and tased him repeatedly until he stopped breathing, and the sheriff's office says officers acted to stop him from harming himself, the state's attorney has requested an independent review, and Illinois State Police are investigating.
Reported by: Sangamon County Coroner Jim Allmon (medical examiner or coroner); Sangamon County Sheriff's Office (the agency that held him); family's wrongful-death lawsuit (family or their lawyers); Illinois State Police (outside investigators); state's attorney (outside investigators).
Lawsuit: His family filed a wrongful-death lawsuit over his death at the Sangamon County Jail, and no settlement or award amount has been reported.
News reports (7)
- News report
- Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, Death in Custody Reports (edition of 2026-07-28)
- Sheriff releases video of fatal jailhouse struggle
- Coroner: Death of Ill. inmate restrained by COs classified as homicide
- Sangamon County Jail inmate's death leaves questions, mother at protest wants answers - The State Journal-Register
- Dozens of deaths in Illinois jails missing from state records
- Escapes. Fires. Rebellions. Trove of records reveals chaos inside Illinois county jails.