Franklin County sued for 2nd jail inmate death. Video shows medical checks were skipped

The family of a man who died in the Franklin County jail in 2022 while he was supposed to be under medical supervision has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the county in federal court.

Thomas D. Franklin, 57, was booked into the jail Feb. 18, 2022 on warrants from Umatilla County, Ore., and was given a standard medical screening as part of the jail booking process, according to the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office.

Based on that screening, he was placed on medical observation and was supposed to be periodically checked by jail corrections officers and staff to observe his condition.

Franklin County jail logs indicated that he was periodically checked, but security video showed otherwise.

A deputy, who was on probation, was accused of falsifying his jail logs and was fired by Sheriff Jim Raymond, the sheriff said in July 2022.

Inmate death

Four days after his arrest, Franklin was being return from court to the jail when jail staff saw that he appeared to be in pain and they sought medical help.

Shortly after jail medical staff checked him, Franklin collapsed in his cell. He was taken to Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland, where he was admitted to the intensive care unit and died the next day.

The lawsuit says he died from acute peritonitis, or inflammation of the membrane that lines the abdomen and pelvis, due to a ruptured ulcer in the small intestine.

A sheriff’s report in 2022 said it was not known if the inmate knew he had the medical condition or was being treated for it.

The lawsuit, filed by Franklin’s sister on behalf of his estate and his father, is asking for damages that include punitive damages, loss of companionship, and economic damages.

2nd lawsuit settles for $2.5 million

Franklin was one of four inmates who died in the Franklin County jail between November 2021 and July 2022.

They included Faviola Valenzuela, who died in March 2022, after being left in solitary isolation for several days without receiving her prescribed medications, according to court documents.

On Wednesday the Franklin County commissioners agreed to a $2.5 million settlement with her family. The payment will be made as part of the county’s insurance risk pool, and the county will be responsible for a $25,000 deductible.

Valenzuela had developmental disabilities and the cognitive capacity of a 12-year-old, according to the suit.

Valenzuela died a day after a Tri-Cities judge decided she should be released on her own recognizance.

Someone at the jail, who was not identified in court documents, had raised concerns about her mental health and whether she needed to be involuntarily committed to a psychiatric care center to be evaluated, according to a federal lawsuit filed by her father and son.

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court, claims there was no sign Franklin County officials took any steps to have her transferred to a mental health facility.

Attorneys also alleged that she was left suffering in a holding cell for four days, including refusing to eat and barely drink water.

An autopsy showed she died from methamphetamine intoxication and an acute kidney injury, which her family said was treatable.

2 other inmates died

Among the other inmates who died within months of Franklin’s death included Jesus “Alex” Payan, 23, who was found Nov. 21, 2021, in his COVID isolation jail cell with bedding wrapped around his neck.

Payan, who went by the nickname “ASAP,” had turned himself in after police were looking for him in connection with the stabbing of a 19-year-old man.

At the time, Pasco police believed he was homeless and was often seen riding his bicycle around downtown.

An investigation found Payan told people he planned to hurt himself, but no one shared that information with jail staff.

In another death, Giovanni Magaña was found dead in his cell on July 1, 2022, after being moved to isolation due to behavioral issues.

The coroner’s officer determined that his death was a suicide caused by hanging.

Magaña was accused of stabbing his 67-year-old mother to death in July 2020 after her body was discovered inside her son’s room.

He was evaluated by Eastern State Hospital and spent 90 days in treatment early in 2021. Shortly before his death, the prosecutors and defense attorneys were preparing to hold a hearing about his mental competency.

Tri-City Herald reporters Cory McCoy and Cameron Probert contributed to this account.