Suicide Tragedy Sparks $2.5M Settlement: Garfield County Closes Jail Amidst Scandal

According to KUOW, Garfield County has agreed to shut down its jail permanently following a suicide tragedy. Kyle Lara is an inmate has committed suicide and went undiscovered for 18 hours. The settlement that was approved by a superior court judge on Monday includes a significant payout and a commitment to reform. Kyle Lara’s family including his parents David and Rhonda Sue Lara, will receive $2.5 million from the county. This money is intended to support Lara’s 13-year-old daughter whom the Laras are raising. They say the closure of the jail is the most crucial part of the agreement as it aims to prevent such a suicide tragedy from happening again. The Garfield County Jail was shut down in March 2023 shortly after the family filed their claim. The jail was described as poorly run and unsafe with conditions deemed egregious. The Lara family’s lawyer Ryan Dreveskracht highlighted that the county promised not to reopen the jail unless it meets state and federal standards and staff undergo proper training. Inmates are now housed in jails in Whitman and Walla Walla counties.

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Suicide Tragedy Sparks $2.5M Settlement: Garfield County Closes Jail Amidst Scandal (PHOTO: WFMJ.com)

The investigation revealed that Kyle Lara had been placed in solitary confinement despite showing signs of suicidal thoughts. Instead of being monitored by trained corrections officers inmates were observed by civilian dispatchers who were engaged with other duties. The staff did not check on Lara after he covered a video monitor with a sheet and continued to deliver meals to his cell door even after he had died. David Lara expressed mixed feelings about the resolution. While he was relieved that the jail was closed and hoped it would prevent future suicide tragedy he felt there had been a lack of accountability since no jail employees faced penalties. He also criticized the absence of oversight in Washington’s jail system despite recent attempts by lawmakers to establish a new oversight agency. Rhonda Lara, on the other hand continued to grieve and hoped that the settlement would lead to more discussions about mental health care in their small town of Pomeroy. She aimed to use their experience to emphasize the need for improved support systems. Although the Laras found some comfort in their granddaughter’s progress and the support of a grief counselor they still struggled with the loss of Kyle. David Lara remarked that it had been over two and a half years since either of them had slept.

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