EAST ST. LOUIS - Romy McAlexander of Centralia died because of willful negligence in Marion County jail at Salem according to her father Keith McAlexander.
As estate administrator he sued the sheriff’s office and officers Kalissa Crawford and Jason Hensley at U.S. district court on July 10.
His daughter died in 2022 at 24 years of age.
Ryan Mahoney of Glen Carbon filed the complaint, claiming McAlexander’s condition required the utmost duty of care.
“Romy McAlexander had at least six uneaten meals in her jail cell, suggesting that defendants had not checked on Romy McAlexander’s well being for approximately 48 hours,” he wrote.
On July 2, 2022, according to the complaint, officers in St. Clair County arrested McAlexander on outstanding warrants and took her to jail in Belleville.
Mahoney claimed her answers to a questionnaire indicated she used fentanyl and used it the day before.
St. Clair County transferred her to Marion County on July 5.
Her medical notes indicated detoxifying from fentanyl with short breath and chest pain and the notes prescribed detox meds, according to the complaint.
The lawsuit claims that Crawford and Hensley were responsible for wellness checks on July 9 and 10, and that McAlexander’s health deteriorated rapidly. At 5 a.m. or earlier on July 10 she was in obvious acute distress and naked.
It claims defendants delivered breakfast at 6:22 a.m. and did not perform a wellness check.
Hensley brought medication at 7:16 a.m. and as she approached McAlexander collapsed.
The suit says she was unresponsive but alive and breathing.
Crawford then allegedly entered the cell, placed a blanket over McAlexander and exited.
Hensley allegedly retrieved an oximeter and Crawford waited outside the cell.
Hensley checked McAlexander’s oxygen and left to continue his morning administration of medications.
The suit claims Crawford “just stood there doing nothing to assist her despite her visibly dying in front of her.”
Hensley allegedly entered the cell at 7:25 a.m. and she had no pulse, wasn’t breathing, and was turning blue from lack of oxygen.
Resuscitation efforts were performed until 8:03 a.m.
The lawsuit claims procedures required wellness checks every 15 minutes.
Crawford and Hensley allegedly did not perform wellness checks and any checks they did perform were untimely or inadequate.
The suit claims that the sheriff’s office, Crawford and Hensley knew or should have known McAlexander had a history of fentanyl addiction.
They allegedly knew or should have known that staff prescribed detox medications.
They allegedly knew or should have known that failure to monitor her health could and would result in serious injuries including death.
They also allegedly knew of deficiencies in policies and procedures with respect to monitoring wellness of inmates and they deliberately disregarded the deficiencies.
Mahoney’s associate Leigh Perica also represents the estate.
The clerk randomly assigned Chief District Judge Nancy Rosenstengel but provided for the parties to consent to magistrate jurisdiction.
Andy Garden of Marion County held the position of sheriff by appointment in 2022.
He had decided prior to McAlexander’s death that he wouldn’t run for a full term.
Voters elected Kevin Cripps that November.