Jeffery Nichols
Jeffery Nichols, 35, was a devoted father to his 10-year-old daughter, according to his family, and he loved hunting, kayaking and making people laugh; he was planning to build a house on his land for her. He died on September 10, 2023, at Northwest State Correctional Facility in St. Albans, about 27 hours after arriving there. The medical examiner's office ruled his death an accident caused by fentanyl and hydroxyzine intoxication, and his family has asked for an independent investigation into how drugs reached him. His family has sued the state of Vermont and the health care contractor Wellpath, saying officials failed to provide adequate care while he was going through drug withdrawal and that staff did not check on him. The Department of Corrections declined to comment, and Wellpath did not respond to a request for comment.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of an overdose (disputed; neglect alleged). The medical examiner's office ruled the death an accident from fentanyl and hydroxyzine intoxication, but his family's lawsuit says staff failed to monitor him during severe withdrawal and did not check on him, and wants an independent investigation.
Reported by: medical examiner's office (medical examiner or coroner); his family, in their lawsuit against the state of Vermont and Wellpath (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His family sued the state of Vermont and the health care contractor Wellpath, alleging officials failed to provide adequate care during drug withdrawal; no settlement or award amount has been reported.
Sources (7)
- Death at Northwest State Correctional Facility is the 10th fatality at a Vermont prison this year
- Police ID inmate who died in holding area at Northwest State Correctional Facility
- WCAX Investigates: How are deadly drugs getting into Vermont’s prisons?
- A Vermont family searches for answers after son’s fatal overdose in prison
- Family of Vt. inmate who overdosed calls for independent investigation
- Lawsuit moves forward over Vermont inmate’s overdose death
- Family of man who died in a Vermont prison sues the state