Kenneth Durrah
Kenneth Durrah was 35, and his brother Joshua has led the family's effort to hold the county accountable. Kenneth died on December 1, 2022, while held at the Campbell County jail in Wyoming, after complaining earlier of chest pain. The family's federal lawsuit says deputies pinned him face down, placed him in a restraint chair with overtightened straps, ignored his repeated complaints that he could not breathe, and delayed calling an ambulance until he was unresponsive. The autopsy attributed the death to a methamphetamine overdose and found restraint was not a factor, a conclusion that outside experts dispute, and the county attorney declined charges, citing a methamphetamine overdose and excited delirium. The sheriff has stood by the officers' handling, and the family says no one has been disciplined.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of an overdose (disputed; neglect alleged). The autopsy and Sheriff Scott Matheny attribute the death to methamphetamine overdose with excited delirium, while the family's lawsuit says deputies used prolonged prone restraint, overtightened the restraint chair, ignored his cries that he could not breathe, and delayed calling an ambulance, and outside experts say restraint likely contributed.
Reported by: Forensic pathologist Thomas Bennett (autopsy) (medical examiner or coroner); Campbell County Sheriff Scott Matheny (the agency that held him); Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (outside investigators); Weston County Attorney Michael Stulken; Family lawsuit (brother Joshua Durrah for the estate, attorney Darold Killmer) (family or their lawyers); Outside experts quoted by WyoFile and Gillette News Record.
Lawsuit: His family filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against Campbell County, the sheriff and several deputies over his death, and no settlement or award amount has been reported.
News reports (7)
- Campbell County inmate death investigations concluded; no criminal charges sought
- Campbell County jail overdose death deserves further scrutiny, medical experts say
- Campbell County jail death video calls cause of death, use of restraint into question
- Video of Campbell County jail death calls restraint and medical protocols into question
- Family of Wyoming jail inmate files federal lawsuit over 2022 death
- Family sues Campbell County, sheriff’s employees over inmate’s death
- Family Of Inmate Who Died In Campbell County Restraint Chair Sues