50-year-old Rose Denley, of Port Hueneme, was arrested on drug charges and taken to a Ventura County jail in August of 2022.
Her father, Bill Denley, told KNX News' Emily Valdez, "What happened is my daughter went to jail, I expected for a few days, and she died because they didn't take care of her."
According to the family's Attorney, Bradley Gage, Rose was a known suicide risk, and she was left unattended on a second-floor balcony of the jail, where she jumped to her death.
Gage said, "They put her in an area where the railings are insufficient to prevent people from jumping...They failed to take proper precautions, and they failed to give her proper medication."
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Rose's mother, Mary Denley, said, "It's unfortunate that individuals are taken to jail whatever the reason may be and that they're not provided for, that their lives are in danger, and this is a sad situation."
The lawsuit includes claims of deliberate indifference to serious medical needs and failure to protect from harm. And while the family is asking for money in the suit, they also want the jail to make changes to protect other inmates.
KNX News contacted the Ventura County Sheriff's Department, who oversees the jail, for comment. A spokesperson is looking into the request.
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