Kyle Brown
Kyle Brown, 28, called 911 from his mother's home in Smithfield during a mental health crisis on May 5, 2026. Deputies from the Isle of Wight County Sheriff's Office placed him under an emergency custody order and took him to Riverside Smithfield Hospital for evaluation. The sheriff's office says that while a deputy was trying to gain control of him, he became unresponsive, and the medical examiner ruled his death a homicide from mechanical and positional asphyxia. The Virginia State Police are investigating, and his mother, Debora Savard, has retained civil rights attorney Mark Krudys, whose firm is looking into the circumstances.
Cause of death, as reported: Killed by staff (disputed). The medical examiner ruled the death a homicide from mechanical and positional asphyxia, while the Isle of Wight County Sheriff's Office says he became combative and unresponsive while a deputy was trying to regain control; Virginia State Police are investigating independently.
Reported by: Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) (medical examiner or coroner); Isle of Wight County Sheriff's Office (the agency that held him); Virginia State Police (outside investigators).
Sources (7)
- Man held in custody dies after he 'became combative' with deputy: IWCSO
- Man dies while in custody at Smithfield hospital; VSP investigating
- Man in IW Sheriff’s Office custody dies at Riverside Smithfi...
- Man under emergency order dies at Smithfield hospital after struggle with deputy - The Virginian-Pilot
- Man’s death at Isle of Wight hospital after struggle with deputy ruled a homicide by medical examiner - The Virginian-Pilot
- Death of man at hospital in custody of Isle of Wight sheriff's dept. ruled a homicide: OCME
- IW prosecutor receives State Police report on in-custody death at Riverside