Russell Alan Hammer
Russell Hammer, 62, of Hanford, died at the San Luis Obispo County Jail on November 27, 2017, 21 days after he was taken into custody there, according to the county coroner, who attributed his death to a pulmonary thrombo-embolism and deep vein thrombosis and ruled it natural. The sources say he had complained of chest pain and shortness of breath earlier that day, and that he became unresponsive while being wheeled from his cell to the jail medical facility. His wife, Margo Benson-Hammer, filed a wrongful death lawsuit through attorney Paula Canny, saying he did not receive mental health treatment and that his medical and psychological needs went unmet in custody. The county has rejected the claims and says it will defend itself.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of illness (disputed; neglect alleged). The coroner ruled the death natural, from a pulmonary embolism caused by a blood clot that started in his leg; his wife Margo Benson-Hammer and attorney Paula Canny allege in a wrongful death lawsuit that he did not receive mental health treatment and that his medical and psychological needs went unmet in custody.
Reported by: Coroner's Office (medical examiner or coroner); Margo Benson-Hammer and attorney Paula Canny (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His wife, Margo Benson-Hammer, filed a wrongful death lawsuit alleging he did not receive mental health treatment and his medical and psychological needs went unmet, and the county rejected the claims and says it will defend itself.