John Shannon
John Shannon was held at the Barnstable County jail in Bourne, Massachusetts, when a guard found him in his cell early on a Friday morning in May 2014. He was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. District Attorney Michael O'Keefe said opiates were in his system but that it was too early to say whether his death was an overdose, and court records say his new cellmate gave him heroin. WBUR, reviewing records, reported that the nurse on duty did not give him oxygen or Narcan, and that the nurse was later fired and surrendered his nursing license after a complaint from the sheriff's office. His mother, Ellen, said she was never told what happened on the day he died.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of an overdose (neglect alleged). Court records say his new cellmate gave him heroin, and WBUR's review of records says the nurse on duty did not give him oxygen or the overdose-reversing drug Narcan.
Reported by: court records; WBUR (reporters).