James Rider
James Rider was held at a jail in Palmer, Alaska, after he turned himself in to Alaska State Troopers. His brother, Michael Cox, says James had hanged himself and was found dead in the facility. Cox and James's former partner, Tamara Halliburton, describe him as a man who wanted to be present for his children. The family's lawsuit against the Alaska Department of Corrections says James was taken off suicide watch and placed alone in a cell days before his death, and that paperwork and shift communication had lapsed. The state agreed to pay his estate $500,000 without admitting fault.
Cause of death, as reported: Died by suicide (disputed; neglect alleged). His family says he hanged himself, and his brother and former partner's lawsuit says Alaska Department of Corrections staff took him off suicide watch and placed him alone in a cell, with paperwork and shift communication lapsing before his death; the state agreed to pay his estate $500,000 without admitting fault.
Reported by: Michael Cox, his brother (family or their lawyers); the lawsuit against the Alaska Department of Corrections (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His brother and former partner sued the Alaska Department of Corrections, and the state agreed to pay his estate $500,000 without admitting fault.