Kenneth Knotts
Kenneth Knotts, 41, was held at a UT Southwestern hospital room in Dallas on November 29, 2022, during a mental health crisis. His mother, Jocelyn Knotts, said she thinks about her son every day and that she believes he was scared and terrified. The Dallas County Medical Examiner ruled his death a homicide, citing cardiac arrest associated with physical restraint in a semi-prone position, while a grand jury declined to indict the officers involved. The family's attorney filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the UT System, which the lawsuit says followed his cries of "I can't breathe" while he was handcuffed.
Cause of death, as reported: Killed by staff (disputed). The Dallas County Medical Examiner ruled the death a homicide from cardiac arrest tied to physical restraint, while his family's federal civil rights lawsuit challenges the conduct of the officers who restrained him after a grand jury declined to indict them.
Reported by: Dallas County Medical Examiner (medical examiner or coroner); his family's attorney and federal civil rights lawsuit (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His family filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the University of Texas System over his death.