Died in jail or a lockup
Vernon Thomas
Vernon Thomas, 43, was held at the Newton County Jail in Neosho, Missouri, while awaiting trial. He began showing symptoms on December 4, 2020, and was taken to a hospital in Joplin, where he died on December 6. Newton County Sheriff Chris Jennings attributed his death to COVID-19, which the sheriff said he contracted in jail, during an outbreak that reportedly affected several other people held there starting in late November.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of illness. Sheriff Chris Jennings attributed the death to COVID-19, which he said Thomas contracted in jail during an outbreak.
Reported by: Newton County Sheriff Chris Jennings (the agency that held him). The only account of how this person died comes from the agency that held him.