Michael William Ford
Michael William Ford, 57, was held at the Stephens County jail in Duncan, Oklahoma, after he could not post bond. His estate's lawsuit against the county commissioners, the sheriff and Turn Key Health Clinics says he needed a CPAP machine for sleep apnea, a need jail staff knew about at booking. The lawsuit says he was moved into a cell with another person in August 2021 and was killed by that cellmate on August 12, 2021, after about 12 minutes of assault. The estate alleges the county, the sheriff and the jail's medical provider failed to provide adequate care and staffing amid chronic overcrowding.
Cause of death, as reported: Killed by another person in custody (neglect alleged). Josette Ford, the estate administrator, says his cellmate assaulted him for about 12 minutes and killed him, and her lawsuit says the jail's medical provider, the county and the sheriff denied him his CPAP machine for sleep apnea and failed to provide adequate care and staffing amid chronic overcrowding.
Reported by: Josette Ford, administrator of his estate, in a lawsuit against the county commissioners, the sheriff and Turn Key Health Clinics (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His estate, through administrator Josette Ford, sued the Stephens County commissioners, the sheriff and Turn Key Health Clinics over his death in the Stephens County jail.