The family of a woman who died in the Jackson County jail in Brownstown, hired a prominent law firm to determine if jailers were negligent in her death.
23-year-old Ta'neasha Chappell died Friday July 16th, at a Seymour hospital, one day after falling ill.
"She had a fever that was severe enough for the Jackson County jail to take her temperature every 15 minutes, but they did not see fit to get her proper medical care, or call EMS at that time," said Lonita Baker, of the Aguiar Law Firm.
Chappell, of Louisville was arrested May 26th, after leading Indiana State Police on a high speed chase that ended in Jackson County. She was suspected of shoplifting from the outlet mall in Edinburgh.
According to court records, Chappell's request for a bond reduction was denied by a Jackson County circuit judge on July 8th.
While in jail, Chappell told her family she was the subject of severe physical and emotional abuse. Inmates called her racial slurs and put a noose in her cell.
"She did tell us that she got cut on the neck and she was jumped, and she was still around the same people who did it," said Chappell's sister Roneasha Murrell.
Read More: Investigation Underway After Inmate At Jackson County Jail Dies
Chappell's family is also being represented by the Ben Crump Law Firm. Crump's firm won a $12 million judgement against the city of Louisville for the 2020 shooting death of Breonna Taylor. Taylor was shot to death in her home by Louisville police officers while the officers were serving a warrant.
Crump also represented the family of George Floyd, who was killed by a Minneapolis Police officer in May of 2020, after that officer pressed his knee on Floyd's neck for nearly 9 minutes. That officer, Derek Chauvin was sentenced to 22 years in prison last month.
Representatives from the office of attorney Ben Crump has been retained by the family of Ta'neasha Chappell. Chappell died in the Jackson County Indiana jail last week. Autopsy results are pending. pic.twitter.com/Oc838u28i9 — WFIU News (@WFIUNews) July 22, 2021
"They won’t explain why they ignored Ta’Neasha’s medical needs during the 24 hours leading up to her death, despite her constant vomiting and rising fever. They won’t explain what video footage shows, even though the facility has new, state of the art cameras," Crump said in a statement emailed to WTIU on July 22nd.
Indiana State Police is handling the investigation into Chappell's death. ISP Sgt. Carey Huls said the agency cannot comment until the results of an autopsy are completed.
Baker and Crump said their law firms are hiring their own investigators to conduct an independent investigation into Chappell's death.
