Ralph Nelms
Ralph Nelms, 41, died on September 18, 2016, while held at the Bradley County Jail in Tennessee. He had been placed on suicide watch, which required staff to check on him periodically, and he was found hanging in his cell. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation investigated at the request of the 10th District Attorney General and said the required cell checks were not done as logged. Three former corrections officers were indicted on official misconduct charges, which are allegations and have not been proven.
Cause of death, as reported: Died by suicide (neglect alleged). Ralph Nelms was found hanging in his cell while on suicide watch; the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation found that the required periodic cell checks were not done as logged and that three former officers falsified jail logs.
Reported by: Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (outside investigators); Bradley County Jail (the agency that held him).
Sources (5)
- Bradley County inmate's death marks 3rd this year at jail
- McMinn County jail hanging under investigation
- Former Corrections Officers Charged with Official Misconduct
- Three former Tennessee correctional officers charged with misconduct after inmate death
- 3 Bradley County corrections officers charged in connection with inmate death