Marcus Penman
Marcus Penman, 39, was married to Alice Penman for 15 years, and she says he was her childhood sweetheart and had struggled with bipolar disorder and depression from a young age. He was held at the Kentucky State Penitentiary in Eddyville, where on April 25, 2017, video shows him having a mental health episode and staff used a stun gun, pepper spray, a restraint chair and a spit mask. The medical examiner's autopsy found that he died of asphyxia from compression of the neck. Prison officials first announced that he died of self-inflicted injuries, while his widow's attorneys say the state obscured the truth. A grand jury declined to bring criminal charges, and the family later reached settlements with the state and the medical contractor in a civil suit.
Cause of death, as reported: Died by suicide (disputed; neglect alleged). Prison officials said he died of self-inflicted injuries and the medical examiner's autopsy found asphyxia from neck compression, but his widow's attorneys dispute the official account and say the state obscured the truth; the family's civil suit alleges staff used a stun gun, pepper spray and a restraint chair during his mental health episode.
Reported by: Kentucky State Police (outside investigators); Kentucky prison officials (the agency that held him); the medical examiner's autopsy report (medical examiner or coroner); attorneys for his widow.
Lawsuit: His widow sued the state and a medical contractor over his death in a civil suit that ended in settlements, but the settlement amounts were not reported.