Terelle Thomas
Terelle Thomas was the father of a 6-year-old daughter, and his family says he went into cardiac arrest about an hour after he was booked into Dauphin County Prison in December 2019. He later died at the hospital. A wrongful death lawsuit, which the family's attorneys say is backed by the autopsy, alleges that police, county probation and prison employees failed to get him medical treatment even though they knew he had swallowed a large amount of cocaine. The family says the autopsy showed he died of cocaine and fentanyl toxicity. The Harrisburg Police Department and the mayor's office declined to comment on the lawsuit.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of an overdose (neglect alleged). His family's attorneys say the autopsy found cocaine and fentanyl toxicity, and their lawsuit says police, county probation and prison employees failed to get him medical treatment after they knew he had swallowed a large amount of cocaine.
Reported by: Family attorneys Kevin Mincey and Riley Ross (family or their lawyers); Autopsy, as cited by family attorneys (medical examiner or coroner).
Lawsuit: His family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Harrisburg Police Department and Dauphin County, alleging that police, probation and prison employees failed to get him medical treatment, and no amount has been reported.