SCRANTON – York County, the York County Prison and a lengthy list of public and private workers and public officials have been named in a widow's lawsuit after her husband died in custody with "his body ... covered in bruises" and "his blood ... filled with methamphetamine."
Rose Palmer, representing the estate for Everett Palmer Jr., sued in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, alleging that Palmer, who worked as a personal trainer, went to York County from his Delaware home to settle an open warrant on a DUI charge. The U.S. Army veteran was “healthy and in good spirits,” the lawsuit said. He was arrested and put in a jail cell by himself.
He died two days later.
York County, York County Prison, 10 guards and Prime Care employees were among defendants named in a lawsuit stemming from the man’s death.
According to the lawsuit, on April 7, 2018, Everett Palmer Jr. surrendered to York County officials on an outstanding DUI charge. He was taken into custody and brought before Magisterial District Judge Scott J. Gross at approximately 8:25 p.m. Despite no other criminal record and this being Everett’s first offense, Gross ordered Mr. Palmer held on $5,000 bail.
Two days later, on April 9, 2018, Palmer, died in custody. His death was ruled a homicide. His blood contained an extremely high level of methamphetamine and amphetamine in his system. Based upon the level of methamphetamine in Everett’s blood at death, the half-life of methamphetamine, and the time Everett was in custody, it is impossible for Everett to have consumed the methamphetamine prior to turning himself in to York County Authorities, it is alleged.
The plaintiff accuses the defendants of trying to hide the death and trying to delay responses to inquiries in an effort to have the statute of limitations run out. His estate wants documents from mental health records to witness statements and surveillance video in order to help state claims.
Plaintiff is represented by Daniel Purtell and John Coyle of McEldrew Young Purtell of Philadelphia and S. Lee Merritt of Merritt Law Office of Philadelphia.
United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania case number 1:20-cv-00539-SHR