Black Family of Louisville woman who passed away in Indiana jail hires same legal team who worked on the Breonna Taylor case
A family is searching for answers after a woman died at a hospital after being taken there from an Indiana jail. The family has now hired the same legal team for Breonna Taylor’s family.
“Our team has been given the privilege of seeking truth and justice for the family of Ta’Neasha Chappell,” Louisville attorney Sam Aguiar wrote on Facebook on July 21. 23-year-old Chappell native of Louisville, Kentucky passed away after being transported from the Jackson County Jail to the Schneck Memorial Hospital on July 16. Indiana State police are investigating the incident.
Chappell was arrested on May 26 after being charged with resisting arrest, escaping law enforcement causing bodily injury, and theft after reportedly shoplifting in a Edinburgh, Indiana, outlet mall which lead to a high-speed chase that spanned three counties and at times reached speeds of 100 miles per hour before ending in a collision after 30 minutes. Police said over $3,200 in stolen merchandise was found in Chappell’s car. At the tine of her death Chappell was being held on $4,007 bond. Her family says she seemed to be in good health when they spoke a day before her death, but said she was having issues with other inmates. Chappell’s mother Lavita McCain told WDRB she believed her daughter asked to move her to a different cell.
“She called numerous times — over and over saying that ‘they are going to kill me. Get me out of here,’” McCain said, who allegedly hasn’t been able allowed to verify her daughter’s body. An autopsy has been performed investigators are awaiting the results.
“We don’t anticipate any further statements until investigators receive the autopsy and toxicology results, which typically takes several days or longer,” a state police spokesman said.
Chappell’s family told WHAS11 News a detective told them that she had died, however, didn’t provided little information, saying only that she complained of feeling sick before an ambulance was called. Chappell had been vomiting and feverish on Thursday, and was pronounced dead at 6 p.m. on Friday before the family was informed around 8:30 p.m.
“I believe they neglected her. They neglected her need, [and] protection. She spoke to me numerous times — phone calls, telling me they were going to kill her in there,” sister Ronesha Murrell said.
“How do you not seek medical attention right then and there?” she asked.
Chappell leaves behind a 10-year-old daughter. A GoFundMe has been started by the family to cover expenses.