Kendra Sawyer
Kendra Sawyer was 22. Shortly before she died, she spoke with her father from the Deschutes County jail in Oregon and told him she loved him. Her father, Kent Sawyer, says she was troubled but should not have died in such pain. In a federal wrongful death lawsuit he filed against Deschutes County, he says Kendra died by suicide in the jail while in opioid withdrawal, that the county failed to treat her physical and mental health needs, and that records of an earlier suicide attempt were available to intake officers at booking. The county said it does not agree with the allegations and will vigorously defend the lawsuit, and her lawyer says he has seen no evidence she received withdrawal medication.
Cause of death, as reported: Died by suicide (disputed; neglect alleged). Her father, Kent Sawyer, says in a federal lawsuit that she died by suicide during opioid withdrawal, and the suit says Deschutes County failed to treat her withdrawal and ignored records of a prior suicide attempt at booking, which the county disputes.
Reported by: Kent Sawyer, her father, and his federal lawsuit against Deschutes County (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: Her father, Kent Sawyer, sued Deschutes County in federal court over her death in the county jail; the county denies the allegations and says it will vigorously defend the lawsuit, and no settlement or award has been reported.