James Herr
James Herr, 71, was a Vietnam War veteran, psychologist and teacher who spent his career working with special-needs students and coached cross-country running. He was held at the Volusia County branch jail in Florida in March 2015, where his wife says his blood pressure medication was not obtained despite her repeated calls. A corrections officer found him breathing abnormally in his cell late on March 19, and he was pronounced dead at a hospital. An autopsy attributed his death to hypertensive heart disease, which his wife says could have been controlled with his medication, while Armor, the jail's medical provider, says the medication was dispensed appropriately and in a timely manner.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of illness (disputed; neglect alleged). The autopsy attributed his death to hypertensive heart disease, while his wife's complaint against Armor and the county says jail staff failed to obtain his blood pressure medication, which could have controlled it; Armor says the medication was dispensed appropriately and in a timely manner.
Reported by: autopsy; his wife's complaint against Armor and the county (family or their lawyers); Armor (the agency that held him).