Kyle Kepley
Kyle Kepley, 35, died on May 3, 2022, in his cell at the Rockingham County Detention Facility in North Carolina, where he was being held. His mother and stepfather describe him as someone recovering from addiction and mental illness who was working on his healing, took his medication, and asked for help when he needed it. The sheriff's office said he died by suicide and that no one else was in the cell, and the State Bureau of Investigation was notified and is investigating. His parents said deputies came to their door to tell them of his death, and they believe more could have been done to help him. A 2024 lawsuit brought by his family says the jail did not properly supervise people at risk of self-harm.
Cause of death, as reported: Died by suicide (disputed; neglect alleged). The sheriff's office says Kyle Kepley died by suicide in his cell, and his family's lawsuit says the jail did not properly supervise him as an at-risk inmate.
Reported by: Rockingham County Sheriff's Office (Sheriff Sam Page) (the agency that held him); his parents; his family's lawsuit (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His family sued Rockingham County, charging that the jail did not properly supervise at-risk inmates.