Kenneth "Buddy" Staley
Kenneth "Buddy" Staley, 54, had serious medical problems and was on disability, and his parents said he seemed in good health and spirits when they spoke with him on July 30, 2019. He was held at the Grainger County Detention Center in Tennessee and was due for release soon. A lawsuit says that after he became gravely ill, jail officers and nurses ignored requests from other people held there to check on him for about three days, and that a visitor was turned away. He was taken to a hospital, where he was diagnosed with septic shock, pulmonary embolism and pneumonia, and he died there on August 4, 2019; the lawsuit alleges deliberate indifference to his medical needs.
Cause of death, as reported: Died from neglect by staff (disputed). A lawsuit against the Grainger County Sheriff's Office says jail officers and nurses ignored inmates' requests to check on him for about three days while he was gravely ill, and that a visitor was turned away; the lawsuit attributes his death to septic shock, pulmonary embolism and pneumonia.
Reported by: lawsuit against the Grainger County Sheriff's Office (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His family sued the Grainger County Sheriff's Office over his care at the Grainger County Detention Center, alleging deliberate indifference to his medical needs; no settlement or award amount is reported.