Jaimeson Daniel Cody
Jaimeson Daniel Cody, 39, of Divernon, Illinois, was a father of two. He died in late April 2021 after being held at the Sangamon County Jail in Springfield. The Sangamon County coroner ruled his death a homicide, citing restraint asphyxia, a classification officials said does not imply criminal intent. The sheriff's office said officers entered his cell, used a Taser on him, and that he became unresponsive after being handcuffed, and it said officers acted to stop him from harming himself. His family's wrongful-death lawsuit alleges that three officers held him face down on the concrete floor for several minutes, tased him repeatedly, and that he then stopped breathing, while a 90-second gap in video released by a newspaper covers the struggle and Illinois State Police are investigating.
Cause of death, as reported: Killed by staff (disputed; neglect alleged). The coroner ruled the death a homicide from restraint asphyxia with methamphetamine intoxication, while the sheriff says officers acted to stop him from harming himself; his family's wrongful-death lawsuit alleges officers held him face down and tased him repeatedly, and the state's attorney has requested an independent review.
Reported by: Sangamon County Coroner Jim Allmon (medical examiner or coroner); Sangamon County Sheriff's Office (the agency that held him); his family's wrongful-death lawsuit (family or their lawyers); Illinois State Police (outside investigators).
Lawsuit: His family filed a wrongful-death lawsuit over his death at the Sangamon County Jail, and the reporting gives no amount paid or awarded.