Jeffrey T. Jensen
Jeffrey T. Jensen, 37, worked on cars in his family's automotive repair business before struggling with addiction, and his family remembers him as a fun, creative man. His sister, Danielle Jensen, said he was "full of life" and often gave his own shoes to others. He was held at Arizona State Prison Complex-Lewis in Buckeye, where the Arizona Department of Corrections says he was hurt in an assault by other people held there that no one witnessed, and he died on June 19, 2017, at St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix, where he was being treated for head injuries. The department says it is investigating his death as a suspected homicide and has uncovered some leads, while his sister said he had told her weeks earlier that he feared for his safety and his family has filed a lawsuit saying the state failed in its duty to protect him.
Cause of death, as reported: Killed by another person in custody (disputed; neglect alleged). The Arizona Department of Corrections says he died of head injuries from an unwitnessed assault by other inmates and is investigating it as a suspected homicide, while his family's lawsuit says he was severely beaten at Lewis prison and that the state failed to protect him.
Reported by: Arizona Department of Corrections (the agency that held him); his family's lawsuit (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His family filed a lawsuit against the state over his death, and no settlement or award amount has been reported.