Nathaniel Davis Jr.
Nathaniel Davis Jr., 36, was held at the Johnson County Jail in Iowa in March 2024. The Johnson County Sheriff's Office said a deputy saw him fall in his cell on March 14, and that he died at University of Iowa Hospital on March 19. The sheriff's office described the death as an apparent medical emergency, asked the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation to examine it, and said an autopsy is planned. His estate's federal lawsuit says he showed severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms within two days of arriving at the jail and was not evaluated, treated or hospitalized for more than 35 hours, and it lists complications of alcohol withdrawal as the cause of death.
Cause of death, as reported: Died from neglect by staff (disputed). His estate's lawsuit says jail staff and medical providers failed for days to recognize, treat or hospitalize him for severe alcohol withdrawal, while the Johnson County Sheriff's Office described an apparent medical emergency with an autopsy pending.
Reported by: Johnson County Sheriff's Office (the agency that held him); his estate's lawsuit (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His estate filed a federal lawsuit against Johnson County and 19 individuals over his death, seeking unspecified damages, and the county has not yet responded.
News reports (5)
- JoCo Sheriff: 36-year-old man dies in hospital after medical emergency in a jail cell
- DCI investigating eastern Iowa jail inmate’s death
- Lawsuit filed in death of Johnson County Jail inmate who died after alleged medical neglect
- Johnson County sued over 36-year-old jail inmate’s death
- Johnson County sued over 36-year-old jail inmate’s death