Jenna Mitchell
Jenna Mitchell, a 25-year-old transgender woman, was held at Valdosta State Prison in Lowndes County, Georgia. The Georgia Department of Corrections says she died by suicide, hanging herself in her cell in early December 2017. Her parents' lawsuit alleges that her mother had warned staff she was at risk, that she had been repeatedly placed in solitary confinement, that an officer left her alone after she said she was about to hang herself, and that it took too long to cut her down. The defendants deny wrongdoing, and the state agreed to pay $2.2 million to settle the case, while her mother said nothing could take the place of her child.
Cause of death, as reported: Died by suicide (neglect alleged). The Georgia Department of Corrections says she hanged herself in her cell, and her parents' lawsuit says an officer left her alone after she said she was about to hang herself and that staff took too long to cut her down.
Reported by: Georgia Department of Corrections (the agency that held her); her parents, through their lawsuit (family or their lawyers); court documents; news report.
Lawsuit: Her parents sued the state and several defendants over her death, and the Georgia Department of Corrections agreed in 2021 to settle for $2.2 million.
News reports (7)
- News report
- Officials investigating death of Valdosta State Prison inmate
- Officials investigate Valdosta State Prison inmate death
- Parents sue Ga. corrections department, others over transgender inmate’s 2017 suicide
- State of Georgia settles wrongful-death suit by family of Trans inmate
- Prison inmate indicted in murder