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CALL 6: Settlement reached in Grant County Jail inmate death

Posted at 12:43 PM, Oct 07, 2016
and last updated 2016-10-07 12:43:05-04

GRANT COUNTY, Ind. -- Attorneys have reached a settlement agreement in the death of a Grant County jail inmate who died following an acute asthma attack she suffered while inside the jail.

Kendra Shaw died on May 8, 2014 at the age of 25.

Her mother, Bobbie Sue Frazier, filed a lawsuit in 2014 against the Grant County Sheriff’s department and Correctional Healthcare Companies, alleging they were negligent in Shaw’s death.

RELATEDAttorneys argue jail, health care provider were negligent in inmate's death

Frazier’s attorneys allege the jail corrections officers failed to call the ambulance in time to save Shaw’s life.

 

RELATEDJail records provide insight on what led to death of Kendra Shaw, 25

Frazier’s attorney Tim Rowe told Call 6 Investigates the probate court approved a financial settlement and they are awaiting distribution of funds.

The settlement amount is confidential.

Frazier said her daughter’s husband, Kyle Shaw, is the sole beneficiary of the settlement.

Kyle Shaw has not yet responded to requests for comment.

Frazier and longtime friend Natalie Gann expressed outrage at the settlement.

“I think it’s disgusting really,” said Gann. “It should have gone to trial because there is no justice for Kendra.”

Frazier’s attorney Tim Rowe declined to comment on why a settlement was reached, rather than letting a jury decide the case.

Call 6 Investigates left a message Friday morning attorneys representing the Grant County Sheriff’s Department and Correctional Healthcare Companies.

It appears they are now operating under a new name, Correct Care Solutions.

Records and video obtained by the Call 6 Investigators show Shaw told jail staff at 3:33 a.m. on May 7 that she was having an asthma attack and couldn’t breathe.

The lawsuit alleged jail staff did not immediately call for an ambulance or contact the hospital when Shaw complained she couldn’t breathe.

Instead, officers took Shaw into the “barber shop” room to receive a breathing treatment. Shaw never made it through the first breathing treatment.

Instead she urinated herself, foamed at the mouth and stopped breathing, records show.

The lawsuit alleged jail staff did not call the ambulance until 3:53 a.m., 20 minutes after Shaw told jail staff she was having an asthma attack and couldn’t breathe.

She was taken off life support and died May 8 at a Fort Wayne hospital.

She was in the Grant County jail for a probation violation and theft.