John Kleutsch
John Kleutsch was 57 when he died in August 2018 at the Monroe Correctional Complex in Washington, after outpatient cancer surgery. His widow, Julia Kleutsch, said he was treated inhumanely and suffered terribly before he died. The lawsuit she brought says his abdominal wound became infected, that he reported severe pain and was given over-the-counter pain medication, and that he was sent to an emergency room too late. He died of septic shock, acute pancreatitis and a perforated intestine. In a March 2021 court filing the state Department of Corrections admitted negligence and settled the lawsuit for $3.25 million, and a department investigation had concluded his death may have been avoided with proper medical care.
Cause of death, as reported: Died from neglect by staff (disputed). The Washington Department of Corrections investigation said the death may have been avoided with proper medical care, and his widow Julia Kleutsch's lawsuit says staff treated his infected wound and severe pain with over-the-counter medication and sent him to an emergency room too late, a claim the state admitted in a March 2021 court filing.
Reported by: Washington Department of Corrections investigation (outside investigators); Julia Kleutsch, widow, through her lawsuit (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His widow, Julia Kleutsch, sued the state Department of Corrections, which admitted negligence in a March 2021 filing and settled for $3.25 million.