More than five years David Wayne Mays died at the Botetourt-Craig Regional Jail in 2016, his case has now resulted in a $350,000 settlement for his family.
The Roanoke Times reported on the settlement, which was approved on Tuesday, August 24th, 2021. Mays, 57, was arrested on July 26th, 2016, and was charged with public intoxication. Though he was released a short time later, authorities saw him again the following day, when they were called to a home and found Mays “with slurred speech, bloodshot eyes and difficulty staying awake.”
He was taken to jail and was ordered to be held there until sober. The lawsuit alleges that authorities did not conduct a medical evaluation despite knowing that there were large amounts of prescription drugs and alcohol in Mays’ system.
Shortly after, Mays was found unresponsive, and he was transported to a local hospital, where he died two days later.
Although the lawsuit has been in place since at least 2018, it has taken years to reach an agreement. After legal fees and costs, each of Mays’ two sons will receive slightly more than $185,000.
