Ronnie Ledbetter
Ronnie Ledbetter, 53, of Decherd, Tennessee, died on May 29, 2024, after he was taken to the Grundy County Jail. The sheriff's office said he was unresponsive when he arrived at the jail and was pronounced dead at a hospital. The sheriff's office said the autopsy found an overdose, that deputies did not cause his death, and that his rib fractures came from CPR. His family's lawsuit says deputies and first responders beat and tased him and dragged him through the jail while he was lifeless. The sheriff's office disputes those claims and says a TBI investigation found no wrongdoing by its officers.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of an overdose (disputed). The Grundy County Sheriff's Office says the autopsy found an overdose and that deputies did not cause the death, while his family's lawsuit says deputies beat, tased and dragged him.
Reported by: Grundy County Sheriff's Office (the agency that held him); official autopsy report; his family's lawsuit (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His family sued Grundy County, its sheriff and deputies over his death in federal court, alleging beatings and excessive force, and no settlement or award amount has been reported.
Sources (8)
- TBI probing Grundy County prisoner death after he arrived at jail unresponsive
- Inmate arrives unresponsive at Grundy County Jail, later dies; TBI investigating
- TBI investigating man’s death at Grundy County jail
- Sheriff's office challenges lawsuit claiming deputies beat, killed Grundy County inmate
- Family alleges misconduct in Grundy County in-custody death
- Grundy County Sheriff’s Department Responds to Lawsuit
- UPDATE: Grundy Co. Sheriff’s Office disputes lawsuit of 2024 inmate death
- UPDATE: Grundy Co. Sheriff responds to federal lawsuit filed by family of deceased inmate