Jimmy Sons
Jimmy Sons was 20 years old and had just returned to Mississippi to plan to work in electrical work with his father, who had asked for a mental health evaluation and treatment for him in 2015. Sheriff's staff held him at the Benton County jail to await a commitment hearing, and he was placed alone in a cell without a mental health screening, according to his father's lawsuit. According to court records and that lawsuit, he hanged himself in his cell less than 24 hours after he was booked, and his family says jail staff failed to protect him. The family's lawsuit was later settled for an undisclosed sum.
Cause of death, as reported: Died by suicide (neglect alleged). His father's lawsuit says Benton County jail staff left him alone in a cell without a mental health screening despite his known suicide risk, and that he hanged himself less than 24 hours after booking.
Reported by: documents in his father's lawsuit (family or their lawyers); court records.
Lawsuit: His father sued over his death, and the family's settlement was reported only as an undisclosed sum.