Samantha Robinson
Samantha Robinson, 42, was the youngest daughter of Roberta Ostrom, who said her daughter had been sober for about three months and was finally getting her drug use under control. Robinson died in November 2014 at the Linn County Jail in Oregon, where she was held, and the medical examiner, Dr. Stephen Fletcher, called the death "very preventable" and listed the cause as bacterial pneumonia. Her family and a cellmate say she was very sick and that staff repeatedly refused her medical care, leaving her with only over-the-counter medicine and advice to rest. Her family settled a wrongful death lawsuit with the Linn County Sheriff's Office for $650,000 in December 2016, and Sheriff Bruce Riley said he stands by his staff and that the case was thoroughly investigated.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of illness (disputed; neglect alleged). Medical examiner Dr. Stephen Fletcher said the death was 'very preventable', and the family and their attorney Dan Rayfield say she had bacterial pneumonia, that staff repeatedly refused her medical care, and that they rejected the sheriff's account in a wrongful death lawsuit later settled for $650,000.
Reported by: medical examiner Dr. Stephen Fletcher (medical examiner or coroner); family, friends and attorney Dan Rayfield (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: Her family sued over her death in custody and settled with Linn County for $650,000 in December 2016.