Octavius Davis
Octavius Davis, 35, died on January 16, 2023, in his shared cell at the Bucks County jail in Doylestown, about two weeks after he was held there. The Bucks County coroner said he was found unresponsive in his cell, and the death was investigated by county detectives and the corrections department's investigations unit. An autopsy later ruled his death an accidental fentanyl overdose. His cellmate says in a federal lawsuit that he was kept on a contraband watch for three days without hospital care while Davis died nearby. The county prison oversight board said it had not been told of the death at the time and adopted a motion requiring future notification.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of an overdose (neglect alleged). An autopsy ruled the death an accidental fentanyl overdose, and his cellmate's federal lawsuit says staff kept the cellmate on contraband watch for three days without hospital care while Davis died nearby.
Reported by: autopsy; his cellmate, in a federal lawsuit (witnesses).
Sources (5)
- Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, Death in Custody Reporting Act dashboard
- County Prison Reports Inmate Death Is Under Investigation
- January Bucks County Inmate Death Probed: Officials
- Bucks County prison oversight board wasn't told about inmate death. Why that's not unusual
- He swallowed bags of drugs in Bucks County jail. Why ex-inmate is now suing