Shelby County Inmate Dalton Goddard Dies in the Tennessee Jail
In Shelby County news out of Tennessee dated October 30, 2025, another individual incarcerated at the Shelby County Jail has died, according to a statement from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI).
Authorities identified the man as 24-year-old Dalton Goddard, who was found unresponsive in his cell on October 29, 2025, at approximately 11:37 p.m., the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) confirmed.
Emergency responders from Memphis Fire were notified, but Dalton Goddard was pronounced deceased at the scene, the sheriff’s office said. The Shelby County District Attorney’s Office was informed of the incident, and the TBI has taken over the investigation, which is standard protocol for in-custody deaths.
In a statement, TBI said an autopsy is being conducted to determine the official cause and manner of death. The agency noted that the investigation is active and ongoing.
The sheriff’s office declined to provide additional details and referred all inquiries to TBI.
The Shelby County Jail, more commonly known locally as 201 Poplar, is at 201 Poplar Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee 38103. The jail has a 2,813-bed capacity.
A 22-Year-Old Minnesota Inmate is Denied Crucial Medical Care
A lawsuit filed in Minnesota alleges that a 22-year-old diabetic man was denied crucial medical care while being held at the Dakota County Jail, resulting in a prolonged hospital stay.
According to the complaint, the man repeatedly asked for medical attention as his blood sugar levels climbed dangerously high, but jail staff failed to respond for hours. The incident occurred during a brief stay at the jail between July 4 and July 6, 2022, after which the man required weeks of hospitalization to recover. There is video footage of the entire incident, and it is tough to watch. For hours on end, as his son suffered, he was not provided with the essential medical care he required.
The 22-year-old man was booked into the Dakota County Jail around 6 p.m. on July 4. Shortly after his arrival, his father contacted jail officials to alert them to his son’s serious medical conditions. He explained that his son required gabapentin to manage anxiety and insulin to control his Type 1 diabetes, warning staff that missing doses of gabapentin could trigger severe withdrawal symptoms.
Despite these warnings, the complaint states that jail personnel failed to provide either medication. By the following morning, around 11 a.m. on July 5, the young man began to exhibit signs of withdrawal — including agitation, confusion, and erratic behavior, the lawsuit alleges. A nurse practitioner at the facility reportedly recommended placing him in a padded cell and putting him on suicide watch for his safety.
Once in isolation, the man reportedly refused insulin. However, his condition had deteriorated to the point that he could not comprehend the risks of refusing treatment. Despite his apparent incapacity, jail staff allowed him to decline the medication.
In the final 24 hours of his time in custody, the man’s condition rapidly worsened, the lawsuit states. According to jail records, he cried out repeatedly for help, yelling, “I need a doctor,” but no attempt was made to get him medical care. The complaint describes how the man vomited, urinated, and defecated in his cell multiple times and was left in this state for hours. He also suffered a head injury, causing visible bleeding, yet no medical intervention was provided.
By 6 p.m. on July 5, 2022, his condition was worsening and continued to decline overnight, while no one addressed the appalling state of his cell.
Court filings report that the man continued to call out for a doctor through the night and into the morning of July 6, but his pleas went unanswered. By 9 a.m., a nurse practitioner finally called for an ambulance.
When paramedics arrived, the man was in critical condition — listed as “Code Red.” Medical staff at the hospital later determined he was suffering from severe diabetic ketoacidosis, with a blood sugar level of 1,030 mg/dL.
The man slipped into a coma for four days due to diabetic ketoacidosis. During his 21-day hospitalization, doctors also reportedly treated him for acute encephalopathy, severe agitation, and several brain injuries, including a subdural hematoma, subdural hygroma, and subarachnoid hemorrhage.
Thankfully, the 22-year-old didn’t die from medical neglect, but that doesn’t mean the jail shouldn’t be held accountable if appropriate for alleged medical neglect.
The Dakota County Jail is at 1580 Hwy 55, Hastings, Minnesota 55033. The jail has a current inmate capacity of 289.
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