Robert Barksdale
Robert Barksdale died in a cell at the Monroe County Jail in New York on July 27, 2013, a day after he was brought there. He had a history of mental illness and had been placed under constant supervision earlier that month after threatening self-harm. The Commission of Correction recorded his death as a suicide. His brother Jesse has filed a negligence lawsuit against the county, the sheriff and the former health contractor, seeking to determine whether Robert's mental health needs were adequately addressed. Jesse says he wants to get to the bottom of what happened.
Cause of death, as reported: Died by suicide (disputed; neglect alleged). The Commission of Correction ruled it a suicide, and Robert's family's attorney James Hinman has said his brother's known mental health needs were not adequately addressed, which his brother Jesse contests in a negligence lawsuit against the county, the sheriff and the former health contractor.
Reported by: Commission of Correction (outside investigators); James Hinman, family's attorney (family or their lawyers); Jesse Barksdale's negligence lawsuit (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His brother Jesse sued Monroe County, the sheriff and the former health contractor over negligence in his death, seeking to determine whether his mental health needs were adequately addressed; no settlement or award amount is reported.