Joshua Bell Farmer
Joshua Bell Farmer died in the Columbia County jail in Lake City, Georgia, where he was held before trial. His mother, Patty Gaines, says he lived with a serious seizure disorder that required daily medication, and she describes him as a smiling, good-natured man who knew about his seizures and his medicine. In a wrongful death lawsuit against Sheriff Mark Hunter, she says jail staff were indifferent to his medical needs, including having no medical staff after hours and not calling an ambulance during seizures. She also says his daily medication was blocked by jail policy and fees. The sheriff's office declined to comment on the pending litigation.
Cause of death, as reported: Died from neglect by staff (disputed). Patty Gaines, his mother, says in a wrongful death lawsuit that jail staff ignored his seizure disorder, blocked his daily medication and did not call an ambulance during seizures, and the sheriff's office declined to comment on the pending litigation.
Reported by: Patty Gaines (mother) through a wrongful death lawsuit (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His mother, Patty Gaines, sued Columbia County Sheriff Mark Hunter in a wrongful death lawsuit, alleging jail staff were indifferent to his seizure disorder and medical needs.