Ronald Gaunce
Ronald Gaunce, 37, died on March 25, 2013, while held at the Montgomery County Jail in Kentucky. His mother, Diana Rice, brought a federal lawsuit over his death, and according to the court records cited in reporting, he had been in severe drug withdrawal and lay in his cell for days without adequate medical care. A federal judge found that a contract doctor, a nurse and the jailer had been deliberately indifferent to his medical needs, and the lawsuit was later settled for more than $400,000, paid by the county's insurer. Sources differ on the cause of death: one describes a seizure, and another says he died of a seizure at a hospital after the jail failed to treat him.
Cause of death, as reported: Died from neglect by staff. A news report says he died of withdrawal, and his mother's lawsuit says he had a seizure after two days in severe withdrawal, during which the jail doctor never saw him and only an unqualified nurse checked on him, while a federal judge found the doctor, a nurse and the jailer deliberately indifferent to his medical needs.
Reported by: news report; his mother's federal lawsuit (family or their lawyers); federal judge.
Lawsuit: His mother sued over his death at the Montgomery County jail, and the lawsuit settled for more than $400,000 paid by the county's insurer.