Rodricus Lewis
Rodricus Lewis, 47, was a Navy veteran whose son remembered him as a big clown and a super gentle person who loved basketball and eating out with his family. He was held in the Union County Jail in El Dorado, Arkansas, for about ten months and died in November 2023, after a period in which, according to the family's lawsuit, he did not receive adequate mental health care. The Arkansas State Crime Lab autopsy listed the death as natural, from ischemic heart disease complicated by COVID-19. The family's lawsuit against the county and TK Health disputes the adequacy of his care, and the sheriff attributed his death to his health and behavior, while TK Health denies its care was substandard or caused his death.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of illness (disputed; neglect alleged). The Arkansas State Crime Lab autopsy and the sheriff say he died of natural causes, ischemic heart disease complicated by COVID-19, while his family's lawsuit says he did not receive adequate mental health care in the jail.
Reported by: Arkansas State Crime Lab (medical examiner or coroner); Union County Sheriff Charlie Phillips (the agency that held him); his family's lawsuit (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His family sued Union County and TK Health, alleging he did not receive adequate mental health care in the Union County Jail, and TK Health denies that its care was substandard or caused his death.