Khayla Evans Died In Custody At Lake County Jail After Medical Emergency
Wrongful Death - December 21, 2022
Khayla Evans, of Grand Prairie, Texas, Died In Lake County Jail After Medical Emergency
LAKE COUNTY, ILLINOIS (December 21, 2022) – A 24-year-old woman identified as Khayla Evans from Grand Prairie, Texas died while in custody at Lake County Jail.
Lake County officials are saying that the incident occurred around 2:09 p.m. on Friday. Correctional officers found Khayla Evans unresponsive in her jail cell.
She did not have a pulse and officers began CPR and used an automated external defibrillator. Paramedics arrived and took over life-saving measures.
Khayla Evans was taken to Vista East Medical Center where she was later pronounced dead. A full investigation remains ongoing at this time.
Liability For Lake County Jail Deaths
Inmate deaths are much more common than many people may realize. According to Prison Legal News, “A total of 301 federal prisoners died in 2001. In 2015, the deaths hit a maximum of 455.They declined to 378 by 2018. 2,869 state prisoners died in 2001. The number of state prisoner deaths stayed between 3,300 and 3,500 per year between 2008 and 2014, then steadily rose to 4,135, its highest level, in 2018.” There are a number of steps that jails should take to help keep inmates safe.
- Inmates should receive a health screening before they are admitted.
- Inmates should be properly monitored during their stay.
- Inmates should be given all the medical care that they require.
Every inmate has a constitutional right to receive reasonably adequate medical care. When an inmate has an underlying medical issue, they should be treated for this condition. Failing to give an inmate medical care is a deprivation of their constitutional rights. When a jail is deliberately indifferent to the serious medical needs of an inmate, this could form the basis of a negligence claim. For example, a jail may have failed to give an inmate the treatment or medication that they required. There are many steps that should be taken after any inmate death.
- Surveillance footage should be examined.
- Medical records should be preserved.
- Body camera footage from officers should be reviewed.
- An autopsy may need to be performed.
It can be hard to know what to do after any in custody death. But it is important for inmates and their families to know that they do have rights. Inmates must be adequately cared for and receive proper healthcare. The family of any inmate that dies in custody may have recourse through a civil claim if that is what they choose. It is very important that all evidence is properly preserved after any inmate death.
Investigating A Lake County Inmate Death
We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our deepest condolences to the family of Khayla Evans. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to investigators. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what happened for the sake of the inmate’s family. It is our sincere hope that steps are taken to make the Lake County Jail a safer place.
Do you need more information about a Lake County inmate death? Our team of inmate’s rights advocates are here to answer any questions that you may have. We care deeply that inmates are aware of their rights and that those rights are being protected. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into any incident, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.
