Due to unpaid traffic tickets, 27-year-old Kelly Coltrain was locked away in a Mineral County jail cell even though she had asked to go to the hospital. As her condition worsened, officers handed her a mop and told to clean up her own vomit. She died in her jail cell less than an hour later.1
And this all happened despite the fact that her cell was being monitored by video. Somehow, Mineral County Sheriff’s deputies didn’t recognize that Coltrain had suffered a seizure and had not moved for more than six hours. And even then, when a deputy finally did enter her cell and couldn’t wake her, he didn’t even bother to call for medical assistance or attempt to resuscitate her.
No, that poor 27-year-old woman lay dead in her cell until the next morning when state officials arrived to investigate.
“Details of Coltrain’s death 13 months ago came to light this week with the release of a 300-page report compiled by state investigators. The investigation found that Coltrain’s jailers violated multiple policies when they denied her medical care after she informed them she was dependent on drugs and suffered seizures when she went through withdrawals.
The investigators also asked the Mineral County District Attorney to consider criminal charges in the case, after finding evidence the Mineral County Sheriff’s Office may have violated state laws prohibiting inhumane treatment of prisoners and using one’s official authority for oppression.”2
The investigation was forwarded to Lyon County District Attorney Stephen Rye who declined to press charges saying, “The review of the case, in our opinion, did not establish any willful or malicious acts by jail staff that would justify the filing of charges under the requirements of the statute.”3 (This is shameful.)
And so, on Wednesday, Coltrain’s parents and grandmother filed a wrongful death lawsuit, accusing the sheriff’s office of ignoring her life-threatening medical condition despite knowing that she was suffering heroin withdrawals and had a history of seizures.
The lawyers wrote, “Kelly Coltrain’s medical condition was treatable and her death preventable. If Ms. Coltrain had received timely and appropriate medical care, she would not have died. Kelly Coltrain suffered a protracted, extensive, painful, unnecessary death as a result of defendants’ failures.”4
Coltrain was described as a successful student, a friendly outgoing girl, and an exceptionally talented soccer player who was close to her family.
For a full timeline of what happened, click here.
The Washoe County Medical Examiner labeled Coltrain’s death accidental, caused by “complications of drug use” and the toxicology results showed she had heroin in her system. Just as she said.
From start to finish, officers at the jail have lied and covered up what really happened. And thus far, little in the way of discipline has been done. It is completely outrageous. We hope this family gets some justice and will update you as more information becomes available.
