Maise Knowles
Maise Knowles was 16 and had been held at the Long Creek Youth Development Center in South Portland, Maine, since August 2016. Staff found him dead in his cell on October 29, 2016, and his mother, Michelle Knowles, says he died by suicide. Through her wrongful death lawsuit against the Maine Department of Corrections, she alleged that staff were deliberately indifferent to the risk he would take his own life. According to her attorney, the lawsuit settled for $225,000, and the state's qualified immunity defense limited the damages.
Cause of death, as reported: Died by suicide (neglect alleged). His mother's wrongful death lawsuit says Maine Department of Corrections staff were deliberately indifferent to his known risk of suicide, and that he died by suicide in his cell.
Reported by: Michelle Knowles, his mother, through her wrongful death lawsuit (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His mother sued the Maine Department of Corrections over his death at Long Creek and the case settled for $225,000.