Ryan Everson
Ryan Everson, 42, was a carpenter and the father of three children, and his family says he loved them deeply and was close to his brothers and sisters. He died in January 2023 at the Clay County Jail in Missouri, about ten days after he was taken into custody, when he was found hanging in his cell. Jail officials said he died by suicide and that he was checked hourly and was not on suicide watch because he showed no signs of distress. His family disputes this account, saying he had seizures and head injuries that were not adequately treated and that he was left alone in a cell without monitoring. The family plans to have a forensic pathologist review the autopsy results.
Cause of death, as reported: Died by suicide (disputed; neglect alleged). Jail officials said Ryan Everson died by suicide, and his family disputes that account, saying jail staff left him alone in his cell after seizures without treatment and that they got conflicting accounts; the family plans an independent pathologist review of the autopsy.
Reported by: Clay County Sheriff's Office (the agency that held him); his family; autopsy report reviewed by The Independent (reporters).