James Pate
James Pate was a man in his nineties who was held at the Tazewell County Jail in Pekin, Illinois, in the fall of 2025. As his health declined, he was taken to a local hospital and later moved to hospice care. He died in late September or early October 2025. The Tazewell County Sheriff's Office said he died of Legionnaires' disease, which hospital testing found, and Illinois Department of Public Health officials found Legionella bacteria in the jail's internal water system. The sheriff's office said it is treating the water system and reducing the jail population.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of illness. The Tazewell County Sheriff's Office and the county coroner attributed his death to Legionnaires' disease, which hospital testing confirmed and state health officials linked to legionella bacteria in the jail's water system.
Reported by: Tazewell County Sheriff's Office (the agency that held him); Tazewell County Coroner Charles Hanley (medical examiner or coroner); Illinois Department of Public Health (outside investigators).
News reports (4)
- Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, Death in Custody Reports (edition of 2026-07-28)
- Tazewell County sheriff to release ‘non-violent’ inmates after elderly prisoner dies from Legionnaires’ disease
- Elderly Pekin murder suspect’s death reveals Legionnaires’ disease at Tazewell County Jail
- Tazewell County jail to undergo water flushing, chlorine treatments after inmate dies from Legionnaires’ disease