James Earl Johnson
James Earl Johnson, 54, died in November 2025 while held at the St. Louis City Justice Center in St. Louis, Missouri. St. Louis police said he was found unresponsive there on the evening of Tuesday, November 4, 2025, and that there were no obvious signs of trauma. Police records attributed his death to a medical emergency, but the city Medical Examiner's Office later said he died of fentanyl toxicity. The Division of Corrections said it is cooperating with the investigation.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of an overdose. The city Medical Examiner's Office attributes his death to fentanyl toxicity, while police records describe a medical emergency.
Reported by: city Medical Examiner's Office (medical examiner or coroner); St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department (the agency that held him).