Kimberly Clements
Kimberly Jenkins Clements, 30, was a wife and mother. She died on July 22, 2011, while held at the Candler County Jail in Candler County, Georgia. A federal lawsuit and investigative records say she told another person held at the jail and a probation officer that she would kill herself if she had to stay there. The records say Sheriff Homer Bell responded to reports that she was suicidal with a cruel remark. A news report listed her death as a suicide, and the lawsuit disputes how the jail handled the risk it knew about.
Cause of death, as reported: Died by suicide (disputed; neglect alleged). The earlier news report says she died by suicide, while a federal lawsuit and investigative records say she told staff and a probation officer she would kill herself if held in jail and that Sheriff Homer Bell responded to reports she was suicidal with a cruel remark.
Reported by: news report; federal lawsuit; investigative records.
Lawsuit: A federal lawsuit challenges the treatment of Kimberly Jenkins Clements before her death at the Candler County Jail, and it names Sheriff Homer Bell.