Peddy McWhorter
Peggy McWhorter died of a hydrocodone overdose in 2011 during her first night at the Russell County Jail in Kentucky, where she was held in a detox cell. Her estate sued, arguing that deputy jailers did not follow policy requiring drug-use checks at booking and did not conduct cell checks often enough. Jail officials said they did not know she was using drugs and that the detox cell was where people arriving on weekends were normally placed. The case was argued before the Kentucky Supreme Court.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of an overdose (neglect alleged). Her estate's lawsuit says deputies skipped required drug-use checks at booking and the more frequent in-person cell checks, while jail officials say they did not know she was using drugs.
Reported by: Her estate (lawsuit) (family or their lawyers); News report (reporters).
Lawsuit: Her estate sued over her death in the Russell County Jail, and the case was argued before the Kentucky Supreme Court.