Ronald Shoup
Ronald Shoup, 48, died in 2014 while held at Sussex Correctional Institution in Sussex County, Delaware. His family's lawsuit, which seeks damages for his young daughter, says staff restrained him four times after he became agitated during alcohol withdrawal, and alleges deliberate indifference by staff and medical workers. Two autopsies cited in the complaint found blunt force injuries and broken ribs, and the lawsuit describes the death as a homicide. The state attorney general concluded in December that there was no basis for criminal charges. Department of Correction officials declined to comment on the lawsuit.
Cause of death, as reported: Killed by staff (disputed; neglect alleged). The family's wrongful death lawsuit, citing autopsy results, says staff used unnecessary force to restrain him and showed deliberate indifference to his medical needs, while the autopsies ruled the death a homicide from blunt force trauma; the state attorney general found no basis for criminal charges, and Department of Correction officials declined to comment.
Reported by: Family's wrongful death lawsuit (family or their lawyers); Autopsies cited in the lawsuit (medical examiner or coroner); State attorney general (outside investigators); Delaware Department of Correction (the agency that held him).
Lawsuit: His family sued state prison officials and medical workers over his death at Sussex Correctional Institution in Delaware, alleging excessive force and deliberate indifference, and the Delaware attorney general declined to bring criminal charges in December.