Joel Snider
Joel Snider, 44, died by hanging himself with a bedsheet in his cell at Houtzdale state prison, according to a federal wrongful death suit filed by his estate. The suit said he had documented depression and paranoid schizophrenia and past suicide attempts, and that staff knew of his mental illness. His brother, Thomas Snider, was his only survivor. The state Department of Corrections settled the suit for $100,000, with $54,463 going to his brother. An autopsy found no alcohol in his system, despite a staff allegation that he had alcohol in his cell.
Cause of death, as reported: Died by suicide (neglect alleged). Snider's estate says in a federal wrongful death suit that staff knew of his mental illness and past suicide attempts and did not act on that risk before he hanged himself with a bedsheet in his cell.
Reported by: Snider's estate, in a federal wrongful death suit (family or their lawyers); the state Department of Corrections, which settled the suit for $100,000 (the agency that held him).
Lawsuit: His estate sued in federal court over his death, and the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections agreed to pay $100,000 to settle the suit.