Family Sues Pennsylvania Jail over Heroin Withdrawal Death

An inmate’s surviving family is suing a western Pennsylvania jail saying the man died because his complaints about heroin withdrawal were ignored.

The federal lawsuit filed Tuesday in Pittsburgh targets the Westmoreland County Prison in Greensburg where 23-year-old Corey Kardos was found dead in his cell March 9. At the time, Warden John Walton said Kardos didn’t commit suicide and Walton said he had no information about any medical condition that would have contributed to his death.

But Kardos’ family claims he was a heroin addict and complained repeatedly about withdrawal symptoms when he was arrested and jailed March 1.

The county isn’t commenting on the suit which says Kardos died of malnutrition and other problems caused by his untreated withdrawal sickness.