Nancy Bourgeois
Nancy Bourgeois, 41, died in December 2014 at the Terrebonne Parish Jail in Louisiana, where she was being held. A news report said she had a seizure in the jail's day room. An autopsy attributed her death to complications of high blood pressure. Her family's lawsuit against Terrebonne Parish says jail staff failed to give her the anxiety medication Klonopin, which she had taken for at least a year, and that the sudden stop caused a fatal seizure.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of illness (disputed; neglect alleged). The autopsy attributed her death to complications of high blood pressure, while her family's lawsuit says jail staff stopped her anxiety medication, causing withdrawal and a fatal seizure.
Reported by: autopsy; family members in their lawsuit; news report.
Lawsuit: Her family sued Terrebonne Parish alleging jail staff failed to give her anxiety medication, causing fatal withdrawal; the reporting gives no settlement or award amount.