Kenneth Utterback
Kenneth Utterback, an 83-year-old Navy veteran from Vallejo, was held at the Solano County Jail in California on what was meant to be a temporary psychiatric hold. His sons, Eric and Trent, say jail staff took his medical alert tag and repeatedly gave him Dilantin, a medication he was allergic to, which they say caused a severe skin reaction. He was taken to two hospitals and a burn center before he died on April 15, 2019, with the death certificate listing septic shock, multiple organ failure and Stevens-Johnson Syndrome as causes. His sons have filed a wrongful death claim alleging negligence, and the sheriff's office had not responded to questions about the allegations.
Cause of death, as reported: Died from neglect by staff. His sons' wrongful death claim says jail staff took his medical alert tag and repeatedly gave him Dilantin, a drug he was allergic to, and the death certificate lists septic shock, multiple organ failure and Stevens-Johnson Syndrome.
Reported by: his sons, through a wrongful death claim filed with Solano County (family or their lawyers); death certificate.
Lawsuit: His sons filed a wrongful death claim against Solano County over his death at the Solano County Jail, and no amount has been reported.