Lawsuit filed after inmate’s death

The family of a slain Kansas inmate has filed a federal lawsuit alleging a systemic disregard for the health and safety of prisoners housed at the Meade County jail.
A complaint filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Kansas stems from the August 2017 death of Joshua DeVilbiss after he was attacked by another inmate. The prisoners were among those transferred to the Meade County facility to alleviate overcrowding in the Sedgwick County jail.
The lawsuit filed against various county officials alleges DeVilbiss died “a horrible and preventable death.” The inmate who attacked him was later charged with involuntary manslaughter.
The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office declined to comment on the pending lawsuit, and the Meade County sheriff also had no immediate comment.