Justin Ciccone
Justin Ciccone grew up in Harrisonburg, Virginia, and Colorado was his second home; his obituary describes him as a friendly, bright, proud and intense young man with a big and loving heart. He died on May 3, 2015, after being held at the Rowan County Detention Center in Morehead, Kentucky, and was taken to University of Kentucky Hospital, where brain death was confirmed. His parents' wrongful death lawsuit says jail employees choked, struck and tased him after he was restrained, and pressed on his neck and back while he was unresponsive, and that his mental health crisis was ignored and mishandled. The Morehead Police Department investigated and filed no charges, and the county and jailer are named as defendants in the lawsuit.
Cause of death, as reported: Killed by staff (disputed; neglect alleged). His parents' wrongful death lawsuit says jail employees choked, tased and struck him after restraint and pressed him down while unresponsive, and their attorney says his mental health crisis was ignored; the Morehead Police Department investigated and filed no charges.
Reported by: his parents' wrongful death lawsuit (family or their lawyers); Morehead Police Department (outside investigators).
Lawsuit: His parents sued Rowan County and its jailer in federal court in the Eastern District of Kentucky over his death, and no settlement or verdict amount has been reported.