Mitchell Watson
Mitchell Watson, 35, of Dexter, died at the Somerset County Jail in Madison in the early hours of February 6, 2023, four days after he was admitted. His father, Millar Watson, sued the county, the sheriff and two jail staff, saying Mitchell was exposed to drugs smuggled into the jail and that staff knew he had symptoms of exposure. The lawsuit says staff withheld adequate medical care for more than 12 hours and were not trained to respond to medical needs. The sheriff declined to comment on the litigation, and the defendants were not found liable; the county's risk pool later paid $197,500 to settle the suit, and the case was dismissed in June 2025 with confidential terms.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of an overdose (disputed; neglect alleged). His family's federal lawsuit, through attorney Stephen Smith, attributes his death to drug exposure from contraband smuggled into the jail and alleges staff withheld adequate medical care for more than 12 hours and did not act after his roommate reported his strange behavior and symptoms.
Reported by: Millar Watson, his father, in a federal lawsuit (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His father sued Somerset County and jail officials, and the Maine County Commissioners Association risk pool paid $197,500 to settle the case, which was dismissed in June 2025.