Jeremy Lavender
Jeremy Lavender was an Army veteran who served in Iraq and the father of two children who loved fishing and hiking. His mother, Tina Lavender, and former partner, Amy DeHart, said they repeatedly tried to get him treatment for PTSD, a traumatic brain injury and substance use. He was held at the Chelan County Jail in September 2017, where staff recorded repeated self-harm attempts, and he died in his cell at the Chelan County Regional Justice Center on September 12, 2017. A Wenatchee police investigation reported that he strangled himself with jail linens. His family says he did not get the help he needed and has questions about how he died while under close watch.
Cause of death, as reported: Died by suicide (disputed; neglect alleged). Police investigators say Lavender strangled himself with jail linens, while his family says he did not get the help he needed and has questions about how he died while under close watch.
Reported by: Wenatchee Police Department (the agency that held him); Washington State Patrol (outside investigators); his family; NWPB (reporters).