Keith Renee Smith
Keith Renee Smith was a man who had been living with his mother until her death, and a former public defender, Caroline Travis, remembered him as someone she worked hard to help, writing his court dates on sticky notes for him. He was held at Louisville Metro Corrections awaiting trial and died there in January 2022, about five days after his arrest. The State Medical Examiner's autopsy attributed his death to complications from stomach ulcers, including internal bleeding. A 2023 Department of Justice report on Louisville Metro Police cited his case as an example of officers escalating a situation with someone who needed mental health care.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of illness. The State Medical Examiner's autopsy attributed his death to complications from stomach ulcers, including internal bleeding.
Reported by: State Medical Examiner (medical examiner or coroner).