A Monroe County family is searching for answers and demanding justice after Lester Isbill, a 74-year-old retired preacher with a history of medical conditions, died while in custody at the Monroe County Justice Center on February 6.
Lester Isbill's daughter, Windy Duncan, described him as a "kind, loving man," and her father was known for his four decades of preaching and willingness to help others; his long list of medical conditions included dementia, which sometimes made it difficult for him to recognise his surroundings and he was experiencing signs of a medical emergency prior to his death with symptoms such as heightened blood pressure and heart rate and he had difficulty communicating when the family called 911, however, he became uncooperative and was arrested for disorderly conduct, rather than receiving immediate medical treatment, according to a statement obtained by WVLT News.
Duncan, unsatisfied with the handling of her father's case and the subsequent lack of criminal charges against jail staff, has since hired an attorney, 10News reports that the family is considering legal action and a protest was organized demanding accountability; protesters carried signs with messages such as "He needed medical care, not the chair," expressing outrage over the manner in which Isbill was treated.
Further disturbing details emerged with Duncan revealing a video showing her father strapped to a chair in the jail during what appears to be a medical crisis, despite his vitals indicating severe hypertension, with security footage obtained by the family's attorney Tyler Weiss showing Isbill restrained and hooded for hours until he became unresponsive, the video left Weiss "speechless", according to a 10News interview, and the autopsy report indicated fractured ribs, contusions, and abrasions with a fatal cardiac arrhythmia listed as the cause of death which was obtained from NewsChannel 9.
The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office has not yet released a detailed explanation about the incident, with a spokesperson stating that a statement is being prepared and Sheriff Tommy Jones desires for the public to fully understand what happened, as per a response to a query from 10News.
