Lawsuit Filed Against Smith County for Jail Suicide Death of Nathan Johns

The family of Nathan Johns, 28, has filed a federal lawsuit against Smith County and its former jail medical provider, Turn Key Health, following his death by suicide inside the Smith County Jail in February 2024.

According to the lawsuit, Johns—who had recently been treated for mental health issues and suicidal behavior—was given access to a phone cord near his cell, which he used to hang himself through the food chute. The suit alleges that jail staff and medical providers failed to follow suicide prevention protocols and placed Johns in an environment that was “a recipe for disaster.”

Attorney Dean Malone, representing the Johns family, stated that allowing a suicidal detainee access to a ligature such as a phone cord violates all known jail standards. The family seeks damages in federal court, claiming negligence and constitutional violations under federal civil rights law.

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