Nathan Kennedy
Nathan Kennedy, 48, loved camping, hiking and biking in the West Virginia mountains and cared for animals, according to his obituary, which says he made people laugh and cry with his stories and is survived by his mother, partner, brother, three children and a grandchild. He died on September 8, 2023, in the booking area of the North Central Regional Jail in Doddridge County, West Virginia, about three hours after arriving there. The death certificate lists the manner of death as homicide, with the cause given as a physical struggle with blunt force injuries and restraint procedures. His estate's lawsuit alleges he arrived in a severe medical crisis, that officers pepper sprayed him, struck him and used a Taser while he was restrained in a chair, and that he was given force instead of medical care. A judge approved a $700,000 partial settlement with the state corrections agency and several staff, which admits no wrongdoing, while claims against the jail's contracted medical provider, Wexford Health, remain unsettled.
Cause of death, as reported: Killed by staff (neglect alleged). The death certificate lists the manner of death as homicide, and his estate's lawsuit says officers pepper-sprayed, tased and restrained him in a chair and denied him medical attention.
Reported by: West Virginia Department of Health death certificate (medical examiner or coroner); his estate's lawyers, including Jesse Forbes (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His estate sued and a judge approved a $700,000 partial settlement with the state corrections agency and several staff members, while claims against the jail's contracted medical provider, Wexford Health, remain unsettled.
Sources (8)
- Jail staff brutalized man until he died while tied to chair in booking area, WV suit says
- Settlement approved in lawsuit over man's death at North Central Regional Jail in 2023
- Judge approves $700K settlement after NCRJ inmate dies following struggle with COs, court files say
- Partial judgement awarded in death of NCRJ inmate
- West Virginians are dying of neglect in jails and prisons. The state wants to limit how families can pursue justice.
- WVians dying of neglect in jails, prisons; state wants to limit how families can pursue justice - Charleston Gazette-Mail
- State challenges families’ right to sue over jail medical neglect
- West Virginians Are Dying of Neglect in Jails and Prisons. The State Wants to Limit How Families Can Pursue Justice.