Jonathan Ohlwine
Jonathan Ohlwine, 35, died in October 2023 while held at the Allen County Jail in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The coroner ruled his death a suicide after he attempted it inside the jail; he was found unconscious and died in hospital two days later. His ex-wife, Trisha, says he had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and should have been sent to a behavioral health facility rather than jail. In an August 2025 lawsuit she alleges that the Allen County Sheriff, the Fort Wayne Police Department and others failed to protect him from a known risk of suicide, and the defendants deny the allegations and have asked for a jury trial. The sheriff has said the jail is not a hospital and that the criminal justice system is not set up to provide mental health care.
Cause of death, as reported: Died by suicide (neglect alleged). The coroner ruled his death a suicide, and his ex-wife's lawsuit says jail staff failed to protect him from a known suicide risk and should have sent him to a behavioral health facility instead of jail.
Reported by: the coroner; Trisha Ohlwine, his ex-wife, in her lawsuit (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His ex-wife, Trisha Ohlwine, sued the Allen County Sheriff, the Fort Wayne Police Department and others in August 2025, alleging they failed to protect him from a known suicide risk, and the defendants deny the allegations and have demanded a jury trial.