Name not reported
A baby boy was born in an isolation cell at Rappahannock Regional Jail in Stafford County, Virginia, on August 3, 2021, and he died. According to a federal lawsuit, his mother, who was held at the jail, gave birth alone and went at least five hours without medical help. He was pronounced dead at a hospital, and the lawsuit cites an autopsy that found acute chorioamnionitis and funisitis, an infection it says could have been treated with antibiotics. The jail authority acknowledged the death but denies allegations of negligent treatment.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of illness (neglect alleged). An autopsy found acute chorioamnionitis and funisitis, and the federal lawsuit says staff left his mother alone to give birth for at least five hours without medical help, and that the infection could have been treated with antibiotics.
Reported by: autopsy, as cited in the lawsuit (medical examiner or coroner); federal lawsuit.
Lawsuit: A federal lawsuit alleges that a woman gave birth alone in an isolation cell at Rappahannock Regional Jail and went at least five hours without medical help before her baby boy was pronounced dead at a hospital, and the jail authority denies negligent treatment.