Skye Baskin
Skye Baskin was 27 and grew up in foster care in Georgia with his brother Trai, the two close as children, and he played the trumpet in middle and high school. He was held at the Douglas County Jail in Roseburg for about seven weeks while awaiting transfer for mental health treatment, and he died at Oregon State Hospital in Salem on April 18, 2024, after staff found he had no pulse. A federal inspection report found that hospital staff did not immediately check his vital signs on arrival and said this likely contributed to his harm and death, and the hospital has submitted a plan of correction that is awaiting federal approval. The sheriff's office said he was alive when transferred to hospital staff, while his family and attorney say he died from neglect in custody, and anonymous sources told OPB that an autopsy described severe weight loss, dehydration and a likely arrhythmia. The Oregon State Police are investigating, and the cause of death has not been officially determined.
Cause of death, as reported: Died from neglect by staff (disputed). Reported autopsy findings, described to OPB by anonymous sources, cite severe weight loss and dehydration with an arrhythmia, while his family and attorney say he died from neglect in custody.
Reported by: autopsy findings described by anonymous sources to OPB (medical examiner or coroner); his family and attorney; Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) (reporters).
News reports (6)
- A young man’s death exposes holes in Oregon’s mental health system
- Death of Mentally Ill Inmate Raises Questions About Conditions at Douglas County Jail and Oregon State Hospital
- A man spent his final days in isolation in an Oregon jail. Why did he die? - Oregon Public Broadcasting
- Oregon State Hospital plans changes to prevent deaths like one in April
- Oregon State Hospital plans changes to prevent deaths like one in April - Oregon Public Broadcasting
- A mentally ill inmate in Oregon lost nearly 100 pounds before his sudden death, records suggest