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Lincoln County Settles Wrongful Death Lawsuit

Phillip Hatcher
Phillip Hatcher

Lincoln County has settled a wrongful death lawsuit with the family of an inmate who committed suicide in a jail cell in 2008.

Kara Hatcher Hawkins, the sister of 27-year-old Phillip Hatcher, filed the federal lawsuit in 2010, saying officials should have known Hatcher might try to kill himself because he was arrested in the middle of a suicide attempt.

The lawsuit was settled in February for an undisclosed amount.

Lincoln County sheriff’s officials have said Hatcher hung himself inside his cell with a sock. He died several days later at a hospital.

A grand jury investigated Hatcher’s death and decided no criminal charges were warranted in the case.

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