Shawn Michael Appell
Shawn Michael Appell, 45, an Air Force veteran who had worked as a mechanic and repaired oil rigs and airplanes, died in the Llano County Jail in Llano County, Texas, in August 2011. The Texas Attorney General's custodial death report lists the death at that jail on August 6, 2011, and a news report lists suicide as the cause. His mother, Shirley Appell, says jail staff neglected his mental health needs, and she has filed a federal wrongful-death lawsuit alleging that neglect led to his death. The autopsy lists blunt force trauma to the head, and the jail employees' attorney says staff did everything possible to help him.
Cause of death, as reported: Died by suicide (neglect alleged). The autopsy and a news report list suicide, while his mother and her federal wrongful-death lawsuit say jail staff neglected his mental health needs and that the neglect led to his suicide; the jail employees' attorney says they did everything possible to help him.
Reported by: Autopsy report (medical examiner or coroner); his mother Shirley Appell and her federal wrongful-death lawsuit (family or their lawyers); news report.
Lawsuit: His mother, Shirley Appell, filed a federal wrongful-death lawsuit alleging that jail neglect of his mental health needs led to his death, and no payment amount has been reported.