McMinn County and its Sheriff’s Office have denied any allegations of wrongdoing or liability in connection with a woman who died after being held in the local jail, according to an answer to a federal lawsuit.
Kris Frye filed the lawsuit earlier this year on behalf of Debra Annette McHone, who died July 19, 2024, after spending over one day in custody.
The county responded Monday to the accusations surrounding McHone’s death, claiming the involved nurses and officers acted reasonably and in good faith without deliberate indifference to her constitutional rights.
Dozens of parties are being sued, including Sheriff Joe Guy and the jail health care provider, Direct Primary Care Associates. The county defendants are seeking a dismissal of parts or all of the lawsuit, according to the answer.
McHone, 59, was arrested by Athens police after being released from treatment for stomach pain and possible drug overdose at Starr Athens Hospital, according to the complaint.
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She was booked at McMinn County Jail for public intoxication, and a nurse practitioner saw her almost 12 hours later because she was “yelling out in pain,” the complaint said.
A nurse performed a medical assessment of McHone about 12 hours into her incarceration and did not check her vital signs, the county’s answer said. But the nurse was not required to check her vitals under protocol.
She established a treatment plan to start McHone on detox medications.
McHone was kept in a medical observation cell, but staff allegedly did not appropriately monitor her while her condition was obviously deteriorating, the complaint said. She repeatedly complained of pain, trembled, shook, defecated on herself and begged for help.
The county said in its response that a black curtain was hung outside her cell to give her privacy, but she was still being watched through the cell door’s window and the jail’s video surveillance system.
McHone had been on medical observation for drug detox for about 21 hours prior to emergency medical services being called to transport her to the hospital, the answer said. She was later flown to Erlanger hospital.
She allegedly died on her way to Erlanger.
The contract between the county and Direct Primary Care Associates has not caused “any deaths whatsoever,” the answer said.
“These defendants deny that they were deliberately indifferent to Ms. McHone’s medical needs while she was housed in the McMinn County Detention Facility,” the answer said.
Neither Tyler Weiss, who is representing McHone’s estate, nor Bryan Essary, who is representing Direct Primary Care Associates, responded to two emails requesting comment by deadline.
Contact courts reporter Sofia Saric at ssaric@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6476.