John Patrick Walter
John Patrick Walter, 53, grew up in an Air Force family with six siblings. His sister, Desiree Klodnicki, said the family knew nothing of his situation until they learned of his death. He died on the floor of his cell at the Cañon City jail in Fremont County on April 20, 2014. A family lawsuit says he died of severe drug withdrawal after his prescribed anti-anxiety medication was not given, and the El Paso County Coroner's Office attributed his death to acute benzodiazepine withdrawal after his clonazepam was stopped without a taper. A private correctional health provider agreed to pay $4.25 million to settle his estate's civil rights lawsuit, which alleges the Fremont County Sheriff's Office conducted a sham investigation; the county, the former sheriff and county employees were not part of the settlement and are set for trial.
Cause of death, as reported: Died from neglect by staff (disputed). The family's lawsuit says Fremont County jail staff withheld his prescribed anti-anxiety medication, causing fatal drug withdrawal, and the El Paso County Coroner's Office attributed his death to acute benzodiazepine withdrawal after clonazepam was stopped without a taper; his estate's lawsuit says the sheriff's office conducted a sham investigation.
Reported by: El Paso County Coroner's Office (medical examiner or coroner); his family's lawsuit (family or their lawyers); attorneys for Walter's estate (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His estate sued Fremont County and its health care provider, and the provider settled for $4.25 million while the county and former sheriff remained set for trial.