Jackson County Missouri agreed to a $1.2M wrongful death settlement in 2023 after a 21-year-old man died in a restraint chair at the county jail in 2021.
$1.2 Million Settlement Reached in Custody Death Case
Jackson County has agreed to pay $1.2 million to settle a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family of Marquis Wagner, a 21-year-old man who died after being restrained in a chair while in custody at the Jackson County Correctional Center. The settlement resolves claims against the county, while several other defendants remain headed to trial.
The case raises serious questions about jail restraint practices, medical neglect, and the treatment of individuals experiencing mental health and medical crises while incarcerated.
Arrest Followed Mental Health and Medical Concerns
According to the lawsuit, Wagner was arrested in December 2021 after firing a gun through the door of his own apartment. Wagner reportedly told police he believed someone was attempting to break into his home. Surveillance footage later reviewed by Kansas City police showed no evidence of an intruder.
Attorneys for Wagner’s family say he was experiencing a mental health episode, including hallucinations in which he claimed to be “seeing demons.” The lawsuit also states Wagner was suffering from alcohol withdrawal at the time of his arrest.
He was transported to the Jackson County Correctional Center, where his condition allegedly deteriorated.
Surveillance Video Allegedly Shows Medical Distress
The wrongful death lawsuit cites jail surveillance video that reportedly shows Wagner exhibiting clear signs of medical distress, including:
Difficulty communicating with staff
Confusion and disorientation
Behavior suggesting urgent medical needs
Despite these warning signs, Wagner’s attorney claims that vital signs were never taken, including body temperature, blood pressure, or heart rate.
According to family attorney John Picerno, these vital signs would have shown Wagner required immediate medical intervention.
Placement in Restraint Chair Before Death
Instead of receiving medical care, the lawsuit alleges Wagner was handcuffed and placed in a restraint chair inside a holding cell. During this time, he repeatedly told corrections officers:
“I can’t breathe”
“I’m about to die”
Over the next 30 minutes, Wagner allegedly became unresponsive, stopped moving, and stopped breathing. When staff eventually checked on him, resuscitation efforts were attempted, but Wagner was pronounced dead.
Multiple Defendants Named in Lawsuit
The lawsuit named several parties, including:
Jackson County Department of Corrections employees
A jail nurse
Maxim Healthcare Staffing Services, which supplied the nurse
Advanced Correctional Healthcare, Inc., the county’s contracted medical provider
The $1.2 million settlement applies only to Jackson County, resolving claims related to corrections officers. The remaining defendants are still facing litigation, with a trial scheduled for September of next year.
Broader Concerns Over Jail Deaths and Restraint Use
Wagner’s death adds to ongoing national concerns about:
Use of restraint chairs in correctional facilities
Failure to respond to medical and mental health emergencies
Accountability for inmate deaths
Oversight of private correctional healthcare providers
Advocates argue that restraint chairs should only be used as a last resort and that individuals showing signs of medical distress must receive immediate evaluation and treatment.
Legal Accountability Continues
While the county settlement provides some compensation to Wagner’s family, the case is not over. The upcoming trial involving remaining defendants may further examine responsibility, medical decision-making, and jail policies surrounding restraint and inmate care.
Cases like this continue to shape the national conversation about civil rights, jail safety, and wrongful death accountability within correctional systems.
