Family Settles With Cleveland Heights Over Death Of Ralkina Jones
The family of Ralkina Jones settled with the city of Cleveland Heights this week in the woman's jail cell death in 2015, BlackGirlTragic has learned. A wrongful-death lawsuit claimed that the city was responsible for her death.
The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office ruled that Jones' death was accidental in November 2015. She died from sudden cardiac death in association with postural tachycardia syndrome and obesity with amphetamine therapy, according to the autopsy conducted by the medical examiner.
Jones, who was taken into custody after a fight between her and her husband turned physical, died July 26, 2015. She had sleep apnea and suffered from severall health issues. Officials also said she had had oxycodone, butalbital, alprazolam and zolpidem in her system, which the jailers gave her while she was locked up.
The details of the settlement, including the dollar amount, were not released.
Cleveland.com also asked the city of Cleveland Heights for a copy of a settlement agreement but was told "there is currently no document setting forth the terms of the proposed settlement agreement."