Washington State Jail Inmate Richard Lambert Dies From Sepsis
Richard Lambert was booked into Grant County Jail in Ephrata, Washington, on December 27, 2024. He was pronounced deceased inside the jail on December 31, 2024. Although his cause of death was unknown at that time, the autopsy results revealed that 31-year-old Richard Lambert died from sepsis due to an infection of the abdomen.
The address of Grant County Jail is 35 C Street Northwest PO Box 37, Ephrata, WA, 98823.
Medical Neglect is Often Implicated When Jail Inmates Die from Sepsis
Sepsis is a severe response to infection, and it can lead to organ failure and death. When sepsis develops from an infection, the risk of death increases by between 4% and 9% for every hour that treatment is delayed. If treated in time, sepsis deaths can be prevented 80% of the time. Sepsis isn’t necessarily easy to diagnose because it has symptoms similar to other serious conditions. However, when an individual who is incarcerated in a U.S. jail is at risk of developing sepsis, the jail is responsible for monitoring that person’s condition and taking lifesaving actions. To prevent sepsis, all that is primarily needed in most cases is for antibiotics to be administered promptly.
When Death Certificates Tell the Tragic Tale
Tony Mitchell was 33 years old when he died on January 26, 2023, after incarceration in Walker County Jail. Mr. Mitchell’s death was caused by hypothermia and sepsis from medical neglect, according to his death certificate. The address of Walker County Jail where Mr. Mitchell was incarcerated is 2001 2nd Ave, Jasper, AL 35501.
Terral Ellis died after time as an inmate in Ottawa County Jail in West Olive, Michigan. He was 26 years old when he was pronounced deceased. Mr. Ellis’ death certificate revealed that sepsis and pneumonia are the medical conditions he died from. The coroner listed his death as a homicide. The address of Ottawa County Jail is 12130 Fillmore St, West Olive, MI 49460.
Whitney Brooks, aged 34, became very ill while she was an inmate in the Cleveland County Detention Center in Shelby, North Carolina. She was pronounced deceased on January 3, 2023. Her death certificate shows that sepsis was her cause of death. Cleveland County Detention Center’s address is 407 McBrayer Street Shelby NC, 28151.
In another tragic case, 40-year-old Amber Owens was an inmate in Oklahoma County Jail when she died in April 2023. According to the medical examiner’s report, sepsis was her probable cause of death. The Oklahoma County Detention Center is at 201 N Shartel Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73102.
How Can Jails Prevent Sepsis Deaths?
If current rules of jail operations are not sufficient to cover training that will help prevent incidents of death by sepsis, change is needed. The types of actions that can be taken by jails to avoid sepsis deaths include the following:
- Establish infection control protocols
- Train jail staff to identify signs of septic shock
- Conduct health screening of inmates before admission
- Administer antibiotics for certain infections
When inmates have infections, prompt treatment can mean the difference between life and death. Jail training should include familiarity with health conditions that are linked to sepsis-associated deaths. Factors that can contribute to sepsis deaths in jail include inadequate medical care, which can lead to missed diagnoses and worsening pain.
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