Troy Dean Pownell
Troy Dean Pownell, 38, was held at the Tippecanoe County Jail in Indiana when he died on April 8, 2024. His family says his worsening abdominal pain was treated as drug withdrawal and that his repeated requests for hospital care were ignored, and their lawsuit against the sheriff and jail staff alleges deliberate indifference and negligence. Paramedics took him to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The coroner ruled the cause of death as sepsis from a perforated duodenal ulcer, with cirrhosis of the liver contributing. His son, Troy Allen Pownell, said he misses his father every day and wants the case to change how people with medical problems are treated in jail.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of illness (disputed; neglect alleged). The coroner ruled the cause sepsis from a perforated duodenal ulcer, with cirrhosis contributing, while his family's lawsuit says jail staff treated his worsening abdominal pain as drug withdrawal and ignored his repeated requests for hospital care.
Reported by: Tippecanoe County coroner (medical examiner or coroner); Troy Pownell's family and their lawsuit (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His family sued the Tippecanoe County sheriff and jail staff, alleging deliberate indifference and negligence in his death.