Ohio
Family sues for change after autistic 19-year-old dies from injuries in Ohio jail
Video shows how autistic teen died after 10 hours in Ohio jail
Isaiah Trammell, a 19-year-old with autism spectrum disorder spent 10 harrowing hours in an Ohio jail before he died. His mother, tells his story.
The family of an autistic 19-year-old man who died after his time in the Montgomery County Jail is suing the county and the company that provides medical care in the jail.
Isaiah Trammell, a resident of Lebanon, was arrested after a neighbor called the police, worried about a potential domestic situation since Trammell was yelling on the phone with his uncle. Officers found a warrant from a previous time the police were called for a wellness check, his mother Brandy Abner previously told The Enquirer.
Police then booked Trammell into the Montgomery County Jail, where he began to bang his head as a form of stimming, the self-soothing behaviors people with autism turn to in times of distress. The lawsuit alleges jail staff failed “to provide objectively reasonable medical care” to Trammell, who spent less than 10 hours in the jail before he was taken to the hospital for his head injuries. Trammell was unconscious when he left the jail and spent three days in a coma before he died.
Dying Behind Bars: At least 220 people died in Ohio jails over 4 years
Surveillance video shows Trammell asked for his medication, his clothes, a phone call and a blanket while in the jail. Deputies told Trammell he was “ridiculous,” “embarrassing” and “acting like an ass.” Officers strapped Trammell into a restraint chair two separate times and threatened more time in the chair if he didn’t calm down.
“Defendants intentionally chose to ignore Isaiah’s serious medical and psychiatric needs and sought neither constitutionally appropriate medical care nor a safe environment for him,” attorneys for the Trammell family said in court documents. “Instead, they openly treated him with contempt, goading and mocking him until he foreseeably engaged in escalating acts of self-harm until he eventually lost consciousness and died from his head injuries.”
Trammell’s death drew international attention and his family and local activists have called for better treatment for those with autism in jail.
The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office declined to comment on the lawsuit. Montgomery County Sheriff Rob Streck previously told The Enquirer that Trammell shouldn’t have been in jail, given his mental health issues.
What happened to Isaiah Trammell?
Trammell told the jail’s medical staff that he was autistic and felt suicidal, according to an investigative report. Though medical staff said he should be provided with a mat and a blanket, he was put on suicide watch in a concrete cell and given only a suicide-resistant smock to wear.
The use of restraints is supposed to be a last resort when someone’s safety is in danger, per Ohio jail policies, but deputies kept Trammell in a restraint chair for an hour after he said he had no intention of harming himself.
“You remember how that restraint chair felt? Remember what the sergeant said? You’re gonna go in for 10 hours next time you go in there. You want to do that?” one officer told Trammell after his first two-hour stretch in the chair.
After Trammell’s death, investigators with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office determined the jail staff did nothing wrong and provided Trammell with appropriate care. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has since said jails should be investigated by an outside agency instead of the same sheriff’s office who runs the jail.
Others have died in custody of the Montgomery County Jail
Trammell was one of 18 deaths the Montgomery County Jail reported to the state between 2020 and 2023. A USA TODAY Network Ohio investigation found that most of the 16,000 people in Ohio jails each day suffer from mental illness.
“Even before Isaiah’s death, Defendant Montgomery County was on notice that people incarcerated at the Montgomery County Jail had been subject to the unconstitutional denial of medical services at the hands of its own employees and NaphCare employees,” the Trammell family’s attorneys wrote in court documents.
Two years after Trammell’s death, 25-year-old Christian Black died after time in a restraint chair while in custody of the Montgomery County Jail.
Black died of “positional asphyxia.” Attorneys for his family said the surveillance video shows that jail staff tasered Black and put him in a headlock while he was in the restraint chair.
The Trammell family’s attorneys said in court documents that the purpose of their lawsuit, filed in March, is to seek change for others incarcerated in the Montgomery County Jail, especially those with autism. The family seeks a trial and is suing for compensatory damages, punitive damages and attorneys’ fees. The court has not yet set a trial date.
Regional politics reporter Erin Glynn can be reached at eglynn@enquirer.com, @ee_glynn on X or @eringlynn on Bluesky.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio’s law requiring children under 16 to get parental consent to use social media apps must be restored, a divided panel of the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Thursday.
The decision comes as a blow to NetChoice, which has won court victories against identical digital identification laws in other states, including Arkansas, Louisiana and Georgia. The trade group representing TikTok, Snapchat, Meta and other major tech companies said the Ohio decision went against “clear national consensus” and that it intended to keep fighting.
“An unconstitutional law protects no one, and we remain focused on ensuring the First Amendment rights of Ohioans are protected,” said Paul Taske, director of the NetChoice Litigation Center.
Netchoice brought suit against Ohio’s law in 2024, arguing that it was overly broad, vague and represented an unconstitutional impediment to free speech.
The Cincinnati-based Sixth Circuit’s panel disagreed. In a 2-1 decision, it found that the law was not unconstitutional and sent it back to a lower court to have a block on the law’s enforcement vacated.
“At bottom, the Act imposes a parental consent requirement,” Judge Eric Clay wrote in the lead opinion. “That requirement constitutes a marginal burden that precisely targets the multi-faceted problem that Ohio has identified: Children’s unsupervised assent to terms and conditions for use of platforms that take advantage of and harm them.”
Judge Alice Batchelder concurred, writing that “a statute is not vague just because it has a wide berth.”
Known as the Social Media Parental Notification Act, the Ohio law was part of an $86.1 billion state budget bill that Republican Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed into law in July 2023.
The administration pushed the measure as a way to protect children’s mental health, with then-Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, now a U.S. senator, saying at the time that social media was “intentionally addictive” and harmful to kids.
The law requires companies to get parental permission for social media and gaming apps and to provide their privacy guidelines so families know what content would be censored or moderated on their child’s profile.
Republican Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson called Thursday’s ruling “a win for Ohio families.”
“The court agreed that parents –- not social media companies –- should get a say in what kids see online,” he said in a statement. “We have an obligation to keep our children safe, and today, the most dangerous place for our kids is the internet. This decision gives parents the tools to be involved and provide oversight.”
Piketon, Ohio (WSAZ) – Folks in southern Ohio are waking up to power outages and road closures.
Route 32 in Pike County is down to one westbound and one eastbound lane due to debris on the roadway.
Drivers are also dealing with tree limbs on roadways.
The Athens County 911 dispatcher told WSAZ that it’s not believed a tornado touched down, but there is storm damage.
The dispatcher said storm damage from flooding and trees being knocked down has affected US 50.
Power outages are being reported in Athens, Pike, Vinton, Scioto and Meigs Counties and even as far south as Boyd County, Ky.
If you’re in a tornado warning area, you’re urged to get to the lower part of your home.
Keep checking the WSAZ app for the latest.
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YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (MyValleyTributes) – Clarence Burley, II, affectionately known as “Lil Man,” entered eternal rest on Thursday, June 5, 2026, at the age of 60, at Summa Health Akron City Hospital in Akron, Ohio.
Born on May 22, 1966, in Youngstown, Ohio, Clarence was the beloved son of Clarence L. Burley and Jacqueline Wilkinson-Burley.
He attended Ursuline High School and graduated with the Class of 1984.
Clarence was a hardworking and dedicated man who spent many years employed at Classic Optical Corporation as a Lens and Frame Specialist. Known for his skill and precision, he was recognized as one of the top lens shapers during his tenure with the company. He also worked for Goodwill Industries, where his exceptional work ethic earned him recognition and awards for outstanding service.
A devoted fan of the Oakland Raiders, Clarence enjoyed football, boxing, roller skating, and bowling. In his younger years, he was also an accomplished swimmer. He loved life and cherished spending time with family and friends. Whether enjoying a cruise vacation, visiting the lake to admire the water, debating sports statistics from A to Z, or simply sharing laughter with loved ones, Clarence brought joy wherever he went.
Known for his impeccable style, Clarence was often dressed to perfection. He was especially proud of his many Cadillacs, but none more than his beloved Cadillac Seville, affectionately known as “the baby caddy.” He could often be found cruising through the city, listening to music and enjoying the ride. His infectious smile, strength, humor, and generous spirit will forever be remembered by those who knew and loved him.
In 1999, Clarence met the love of his life, the former Cathy Winphrie. Their friendship blossomed into a lasting bond, and they were united in holy matrimony in 2015. Together they shared a life filled with love, companionship, and cherished memories.
Clarence leaves to cherish his memory his loving wife, Cathy Burley; his children, Shannie (Meisha) Burley of Atlanta, Georgia; DeShawn Burley (fiancée Ziah) of Warren, Ohio; Eddie W. Matthews; and Montell Cochrane; his beloved grandchildren, Zaira, DeShawn, Jr., Deondra, Audrionna, Eddie, Jr., Quiara, Azel, Anyia, Marquel, Aiden, Adalese, Meadow, and Amatureas; five great-grandchildren; his mother-in-law, Eula Winphrie; brothers-in-law, James (Jamie) Winphrie and Timothy (Kori) Winphrie; sisters-in-law, Regina Winphrie and Azella Burley; niece Helleenia Winphrie; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives, and dear friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence L. Burley and Jacqueline Wilkinson-Burley; his brother, Wesley Burley; and his grandmother, Carrie Davis.
Though Clarence’s earthly journey has ended, his legacy lives on through the lives he touched, the family he loved, and the countless memories he leaves behind. His strength, perseverance, laughter, and love will continue to inspire all who were blessed to know him.
“To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.”2 Corinthians 5:8
A homegoing celebration will be held 10:00 a.m. Saturday June 20, 2026 at Jerusalem Baptist Church , a visitation with the family will be 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. at the Church.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Gregory-Martin Funeral Home. For additional information, please call (330) 743-4098.
To send flowers or plant a memorial tree in memory, please visit our flower store.
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