© 2025 Michigan State University Board of Trustees
Public Media from Michigan State University
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Family Settles Wrongful Death Lawsuit after Inmate’s Suicide

jail
WKAR File Photo

Relatives of an inmate who died after hanging himself in a Michigan jail cell have settled a lawsuit that alleged a deputy was watching Monday Night Football on TV instead of monitoring the man.

MLive.com reports (http://bit.ly/2s19fC1) Thursday that the federal wrongful death lawsuit against Mecosta County, the sheriff’s office and the deputy was settled for $160,000.

Raymond Paul Holmes died in 2015 -- two days after being taken from the Mecosta County Jail in Big Rapids to a hospital.

The lawsuit said the deputy was watching the Sept. 14 game with other inmates. It also says he had to retrieve his keys while the 32-year-old Holmes was hanging from a bed frame.

The newspaper reports that Holmes was arrested in August 2015 on drug charges.

___

Information from: The Grand Rapids Press:MLive.com, http://www.mlive.com

 
 

Related Content
WKAR’s first live pledge drive since federal funding was eliminated is happening now. Our goal for the drive is $60,000 and reaching it will bring us one step closer to closing the federal funding gap.
Your support helps keep trusted journalism, classical music, and educational programming freely available for everyone in our community.
How can you help? Become a sustaining donor today. Already a sustainer? Please consider increasing your monthly contribution.