Michael Ostby
Michael Ostby died by suicide in a Yellowstone County, Montana jail in 2015, according to documents filed by his family's lawsuit. The lawsuit says it was his third attempt and that he had been held there for nearly two months. It says staff failed to keep him under the observation his risk required, and that his mental health crisis was not acted on. The county later agreed to a $156,000 settlement and said it admitted no wrongdoing.
Cause of death, as reported: Died by suicide (disputed; neglect alleged). Michael Ostby's family's lawsuit says jail staff failed to protect him from a known suicide risk, and the county paid a $156,000 settlement while saying it admitted no wrongdoing.
Reported by: documents filed by the plaintiffs (family lawsuit) (family or their lawyers); Yellowstone County (the agency that held him).
Lawsuit: His family sued Yellowstone County, which agreed to pay a $156,000 settlement without admitting wrongdoing.