UPDATE 1:43 p.m.
The Johnson County Coroner’s Office identified the inmate as Leomeir V. Kennedy, a 31-year-old transgender male of Vancouver, Washington. Kennedy was found in cardiac arrest at the facility, said Mike Pruitt, Johnson County coroner.
An autopsy and toxicology test have been scheduled per our agency’s inmate death protocol. A preliminary investigation has found no indication of foul play, he said.
Kennedy, a behavioral therapist, was charged in April with child molestation, a Level 4 felony, and possession of child pornography, a Level 5 felony, in Johnson County Superior Court 2. He reportedly confessed to molesting three children under his care — including two patients at Hopebridge — since 2017. He is no longer employed by Hopebridge.
The mother of the child who Kennedy allegedly had molested has also filed lawsuit against Kennedy and Hopebridge. She alleges that Hopebridge was “careless and negligent” by failing to protect her child from sexual, physical, emotional and psychological abuse, and failing to control and supervise Kennedy as one of their employees. She also claims that the center did not have an appropriate amount of staff to supervise the premises, which caused the abuse to happen, and that the center failed to appropriately respond to the sexual abuse, court documents say.
ORIGINAL STORY
An inmate from out of state was found dead this morning in their cell.
Corrections officers at the Johnson County jail found an inmate unconscious on Friday at approximately 9:32 a.m. Corrections officers immediately begin lifesaving measures and Franklin Fire Department responded to the jail to assist officers, said Sheriff Duane Burgess.
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, or CPR, was performed for several minutes but was unsuccessful. The inmate was pronounced dead at the jail, he said.
The death investigation is still underway, but there is no foul play suspected in the death of this inmate, Burgess said.
The Johnson County Coroner’s Office has been notified and is following their protocols. The name has not been released because the coroner’s office is still working to notify the next of kin who lives out of state, Burgess said.
Additional information will be released as it becomes available.
