Randall Scott Johnson
Randall Johnson was a painter who lived in Redding, California, and whose sister, Katherine Johnson, pursued his case. On August 16, 2018, he was held at the Shasta County Jail after police found him in distress outside his home. The Shasta County coroner ruled his death a suicide, citing methamphetamine and hypertensive cardiovascular disease as causes. His sister's federal lawsuit says jail staff failed to summon emergency care, left him in a safety cell without required checks, and found him without a pulse at a 7:35 a.m. check. The sister later reached a $12.75 million settlement with the city, the county and the jail healthcare provider Wellpath.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of an overdose (disputed; neglect alleged). The Shasta County coroner ruled the death a suicide from a mix of methamphetamine and hypertensive cardiovascular disease, while his sister's federal lawsuit says jail staff failed to get him emergency care and left him without required checks.
Reported by: Shasta County coroner (medical examiner or coroner); his sister, Katherine Johnson, in a federal lawsuit (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His sister sued in federal court over his death, and she reached a $12.75 million settlement with Shasta County, the city and jail healthcare provider Wellpath.