Joseph Adam Denton
Joseph Adam Denton died on May 31, 2025, while held at the Rutherford County Adult Detention Center in Tennessee. Before he was held there, he had all of his teeth removed and asked for a soft diet. His grandmother has sued the county in federal court, saying he choked on a meal of chicken. The lawsuit says other people held at the jail tried to alert staff, but jail personnel did not act until he had lost consciousness and gone into cardiac arrest.
Cause of death, as reported: Died in an accident (neglect alleged). His grandmother's federal lawsuit says he choked on chicken, and that other prisoners tried to alert staff but jail personnel did not act until he had lost consciousness and gone into cardiac arrest.
Reported by: grandmother, in a federal lawsuit against Rutherford County (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His grandmother sued Rutherford County in federal court over his death at the Rutherford County Adult Detention Center, and no settlement or award amount has been reported.