Malcolm Willis
Malcolm Willis, 21, was a father of two, a son, brother and uncle, and friends described him as outgoing and able to bring a smile to anyone's face. He died on November 5, 2021, at the Ross County Jail in Chillicothe, Ohio, about nine hours after arriving there from another county. The Ross County Sheriff's Office initially called his death a suicide while the autopsy was pending, and his mother said he was fine in their last conversation and did not believe he would have taken his own life. A 2024 Cincinnati Enquirer report says he was placed alone in a cell while withdrawing from fentanyl and waiting for medical attention, that investigators found required wellness checks were missed, and his family is suing jail officials.
Cause of death, as reported: Died by suicide (disputed; neglect alleged). The Ross County Sheriff's Office initially called the death a suicide, his mother Victoria Kirk-Bristow disputes that account, and his family's lawsuit says jail staff missed required wellness checks while he waited for medical attention during withdrawal.
Reported by: Ross County Sheriff's Office (initial report, relayed by Major Mike Preston) (the agency that held him); his mother, Victoria Kirk-Bristow, and his family's lawsuit (family or their lawyers).