Philemon Stephen Vinson
Philemon Stephen Vinson, 24, was held at the Norfolk City Jail in August 2022 and was denied bond the day after he was taken in. His mother, Jamie Vinson, said he was smart and funny, a passionate football player, a father of three, and an artist who hoped to become a tattoo artist. Deputies found him unresponsive while delivering dinner on August 18, 2022, and the Norfolk Sheriff's Office said he was pronounced dead at the scene after lifesaving measures failed. The family's wrongful-death lawsuit says he died by suicide in his cell and that jail medical and mental health staff did not place him on suicide watch, and that deputies did not properly check on him. The sheriff's office settled the lawsuit for $950,000 in early 2026 and committed to reforms, while the medical examiner's official cause of death and the police investigation were still pending in the reporting.
Cause of death, as reported: Died by suicide (neglect alleged). His family's lawsuit says he died by suicide after jail staff failed to place him on suicide watch and deputies did not do the required cell checks, and the Norfolk Sheriff's Office has not ruled on the cause.
Reported by: Jamie Vinson and his family, in their federal lawsuit (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His mother, Jamie Vinson, sued the Norfolk Sheriff's Office and former staff, and the office settled for $950,000 in early 2026 while litigation against the jail's former medical contractor continues in bankruptcy court.
News reports (6)
- Inmate found dead at Norfolk City Jail; investigation underway
- Inmate, 24, found dead in Norfolk City Jail - The Virginian-Pilot
- Family of inmate files wrongful-death lawsuit against Norfolk sheriff, city jail - The Virginian-Pilot
- Family files $34M lawsuit after inmate dies by suicide in Norfolk jail
- Family of man who died in Norfolk jail reaches $950K settlement
- Norfolk Sheriff’s Office, former jail staff to pay nearly $1M in lawsuit over inmate’s death; reforms promised - The Virginian-Pilot