Philemon Vinson
Philemon Vinson, 24, was a father of three who loved football and art and hoped to become a tattoo artist, according to his mother, Jamie Vinson. He was held at the Norfolk City Jail in August 2022 and was found dead in his cell on August 18, 2022. The Norfolk Sheriff's Office initially said it did not suspect foul play and that the cause of death had not been determined, and that its Professional Standards Division was reviewing whether policies were followed. His mother's federal lawsuit alleged that intake screening and mental health evaluation failed him, that he was not placed on suicide watch, and that a deputy passed his cell several times while he was preparing to take his life. The Sheriff's Office settled the suit for $950,000 and committed to reforms, and the allegations were not tested in court.
Cause of death, as reported: Died by suicide (neglect alleged). His family's wrongful-death lawsuit says he died by suicide and alleges that jail staff did not place him on suicide watch and that deputies did not do the required cell checks.
Reported by: family's wrongful-death lawsuit (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His mother, Jamie Vinson, sued jail officials over his 2022 death at the Norfolk City Jail, and the Sheriff's Office settled for $950,000 in early 2026 while litigation against the jail's former medical contractor continues in bankruptcy court.
News reports (5)
- 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