Robert Awalt
Robert Awalt, 47, died on September 20, 2010, while held at the Grundy County Jail in Grundy County, Illinois. He had epilepsy, and his wife, Elizabeth Awalt, had contacted the jail to make sure he received his medication and 24-hour observation. According to her federal wrongful death suit, a seizure left him unconscious with a sock in his throat, and officers taunted him and left him unattended. The suit alleged medical neglect; the jail and medical providers settled, and in 2018 the court awarded her fees and costs.
Cause of death, as reported: Died from neglect by staff (disputed). Elizabeth Awalt's federal wrongful death suit says jail staff left him unattended during a seizure, ignored his wife's warnings that he needed his epilepsy medication and 24-hour observation, and taunted him, and the jail and medical providers settled.
Reported by: Elizabeth Awalt, his wife, in a federal wrongful death suit (family or their lawyers); news report.
Lawsuit: His wife, Elizabeth Awalt, filed a federal wrongful death suit, which the jail and medical providers settled, and in 2018 the court awarded her fees and costs.