On February 6, 2025, 74-year-old Lester Isbell (also referred to as Elijah "Lester" Isbill), a retired preacher from Monroe County, Tennessee, with health issues including diabetes, high blood pressure, mild dementia, and prior strokes, became disoriented and confused while at Security Finance in Madisonville to pay a bill.
Employees called 911 for assistance with the elderly man showing signs of confusion (believing the year was 1948 and the president was George Washington). Madisonville police officers (Foister/Foerster and Moore) responded around 12:30 p.m., observed his incoherence, high blood pressure, low pulse/oxygen (indicating a possible hypertensive crisis or medical emergency), and contacted his daughter.
Despite no crime committed and clear medical distress, officers gave him ultimatums: hospital, daughter pickup, or jail. When he resisted and tried to walk away (including urinating on himself), they arrested him for disorderly conduct around 1:18 p.m., after his daughter signed a medical refusal form under the impression he'd get care. Officers allegedly fabricated justifications post-arrest, claiming he might be under the influence.
He was transported to Monroe County Jail, where TK Health (contracted medical provider) staff were involved. Despite prior knowledge of his conditions from a recent DUI arrest (later dismissed), he wasn't placed in a padded cell. He fell and hit his head/face on a concrete bench shortly after booking, suffering visible injury, but received no immediate assessment.
Around 1:50 p.m., he was forcibly stripped (pants removed) and strapped into a restraint chair (with chest, waist, arms, legs secured) in a non-padded cell, facing away from observation. A spit hood was later added (around 3:50–4:00 p.m.). Manufacturer guidelines limit use to ~2 hours max, but he remained restrained continuously for over 9 hours (until ~10:50–11:00 p.m.), without food, water, bathroom breaks, vital checks, or proper monitoring. He showed ongoing distress (writhing, incoherent speech, discolored extremities, dehydration signs), and staff (including LPNs Courtney Woods and Greg Mills) allegedly failed to intervene adequately—some even laughed or ignored him.
He stopped breathing and died in the chair. He was pronounced after EMS arrival. An amended autopsy classified the death as homicide, citing hypertensive/atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease complicated by prolonged restraint and dehydration (contributing factors included brain stroke areas).The Monroe County Sheriff initially defended staff actions (except minor issues like an obscene gesture to camera), suspended some with pay, and blamed TK Health. Prosecutors indicted 7 individuals in September 2025: 5 former jail deputies/corrections officers for official misconduct/false reports, LPN Courtney Woods for criminally negligent homicide, and LPN Greg Mills for false reporting. They were arraigned in October 2025; cases remain pending.
A federal civil rights lawsuit was filed February 6, 2026, by Isbell's estate against the City of Madisonville, officers Foister and Moore, TK Health, and employees Woods and Mills (alleging false arrest, deliberate indifference to medical needs, excessive force via restraint, etc.). Monroe County previously settled for $1.9 million before this suit.
The case highlights failures in handling medical/mental health crises, restraint misuse, and accountability in custody, drawing scrutiny to jail practices nationwide. Criminal and civil proceedings are ongoing.
WHERE THE HE!! WAS HIS DAUGHTER THE ENTIRE TIME HE WAS IN JAIL? SHE should have been more concerned for her father’s well being. Im thanking she didnt care until a possible payday appeared.