Timothy Denton
Timothy Denton, 27, was held at the Yakima County jail in May 2016, when he was found dead in his cell. The Yakima County Sheriff's Office said two other men stabbed him in a planned attack. His sister, Ashley Scribner, said he did not deserve to be taken from his four-year-old nephew, and his family learned of his death in court, where they had gone for a scheduled appearance. Sheriff's detectives described the killing as gang-related, while his relatives disputed whether he should have been housed in the unit where it happened. Court records show one man has pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in the death, and a trial for a co-defendant was still pending as of 2023.
Cause of death, as reported: Killed by another person in custody (disputed; neglect alleged). Yakima County sheriff's detectives say two fellow inmates stabbed him in a planned, gang-related attack, and the court describes the attack the same way; his family disputes whether he should have been housed in the unit where it happened.
Reported by: Yakima County Sheriff's Office (the agency that held him); Yakima County Superior Court (court); his family.