Steven Perry
Steven Perry, 27, was the father of two children, and his girlfriend, Alyssa Silva, remembers him as someone who was always up for anything and was fun to be around. He died on February 26, 2024, while held at the Allen County Jail in Fort Wayne, Indiana. People held in his block alerted staff around 7 p.m. that he was unresponsive, and an autopsy attributed his death to fentanyl toxicity. Court filings allege that fellow people in the jail supplied him with the fentanyl in exchange for commissary items. His ex-wife, Kelly Perry, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit alleging that jail staff did not check a scan that showed contraband, and the sheriff's office has declined to comment on the pending litigation.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of an overdose (disputed; neglect alleged). Prosecutors and court records say fellow inmates supplied him fentanyl, and his ex-wife's wrongful death lawsuit says jail negligence let drugs in past a contraband scan that staff did not check.
Reported by: autopsy; Allen County prosecutors, in court filings; Court records; Kelly Perry, ex-wife, in wrongful death lawsuit (family or their lawyers); Indiana State Police probable cause affidavit (outside investigators).
Lawsuit: His ex-wife, Kelly Perry, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Allen County Sheriff, the jail commander and Quality Correctional Care LLC, and the case has moved toward federal court with no amount reported.
News reports (11)
- ISP identifies inmate who died at Allen County Jail
- ‘Deadly Problems’: Another family turns to 21Investigates after inmate dies by suicide in Allen County Jail
- Two men charged in death of fellow Allen County Jail inmate
- 21Investigates: Allen County Sheriff’s Department makes changes after inmate death
- One Allen County Jail death suspect to represent himself at trial, second refuses to appear for Wednesday hearing
- Prosecutor moves to add charges against man accused of role in ACJ inmate death, says he beat witness in case
- One of two men charged in connection with Allen County Jail overdose death accepts plea offer
- Family of man who died of fentanyl overdose in Allen County Jail files lawsuit against sheriff, jail commander
- Prosecutors move to withdraw plea offered to man charged in fellow Allen County Jail inmate’s death
- Judge approves motion to withdraw plea deal offered to man charged in fellow Allen County Jail inmate’s death
- Jury finds man charged in overdose death of Allen County Jail inmate not guilty