3 Island County Jail deaths in 9 years: a look at earlier cases

COUPEVILLE — Keaton Farris was the second person to die in the Island County Jail in 18 months and the third in nine years.

Critics have pointed to the other deaths, particularly that of Gregory McBride in early 2014, as evidence of ongoing and widespread problems at the jail.

Law-and-justice officials, however, are quick to distinguish between the cases.

No problems with jail operations or policies were identified following McBride’s death, according to Undersheriff Kelly Mauck.

That’s in stark contrast to a detective’s recent report on Farris’ April 7 death, which described a long series of institutional and staff failures in the days before he succumbed to dehydration.

McBride, 56, died en route to Whidbey General Hospital from the jail Jan. 26, 2014, according to Island County Coroner Robert Bishop. McBride was being held in jail for driving without a license.

Bishop initially ruled the death was natural and caused by cirrhosis. He changed the findings after the toxicology report came back.

The tests showed “acute methamphetamine intoxication,” he said. As a result, the cause of death for McBride was amended to cirrhosis of the liver with meth intoxication as a significant contributing factor. He changed the manner of death from natural to accidental.

Bishop, who ruled that Farris died from dehydration, sees no tie to the McBride case beyond the place of death and that both men needed medical help.

McBride had a life-long battle with substance abuse and serious ongoing medical conditions. He reported that he used heroin prior to going to jail.

Bishop believes there are three ways McBride could have wound up with meth in his body after four days in jail.

He could have had it in his system before coming to the jail and his failing liver was unable to remove the drug. He could have smuggled it into the jail with him and used it there. Or he could have obtained and used the meth after being jailed, according to the coroner.

McBride was held in a solitary room, so Bishop believes it is unlikely the man obtained meth from someone else in the jail.

The man had appeared in Island County District Court Jan. 22, 2014, on the driving with license suspended case and another case in which a warrant had been issued.

Island County Prosecutor Greg Banks said it is unusual for deputy prosecutors to request bail on a suspended-license charge but McBride had a history of failing to show up for court dates. His bail was set at $10,000.

Mauck said jail staff followed policies and checked on McBride regularly because he had fallen sick. He was screened by a nurse within two hours of being booked and placed in a cell by himself.

Jail staff found him unresponsive in his cell and he died before arriving at the hospital.

The other death, in July 2006, involved a man who had been arrested for driving over a deputy’s toes. Stephen Peters, 57, of Freeland, was in a padded cell when he died from cardiac arrhythmia. Peters had a bad heart and a bad liver from chronic alcoholism, the coroner said.

Banks is reviewing the circumstances of Farris’ dehydration death to determine whether criminal charges are warranted. The Island County Sheriff’s Office internal investigation determined corrections deputies hadn’t been checking on Farris as required and later falsified logs to make it appear as if they’d performed as expected.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

A firefighter stands in silence before a panel bearing the names of L. John Regelbrugge and Kris Regelbrugge during the ten-year remembrance of the Oso landslide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Flood of emotions’ as Oso Landslide Memorial opens on 10th anniversary

Friends, family and first responders held a moment of silence at 10:37 a.m. at the new 2-acre memorial off Highway 530.

Julie Petersen poses for a photo with images of her sister Christina Jefferds and Jefferds’ grand daughter Sanoah Violet Huestis next to a memorial for Sanoah at her home on March 20, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. Peterson wears her sister’s favorite color and one of her bangles. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
‘It just all came down’: An oral history of the Oso mudslide

Ten years later, The Daily Herald spoke with dozens of people — first responders, family, survivors — touched by the deadliest slide in U.S. history.

Victims of the Oso mudslide on March 22, 2014. (Courtesy photos)
Remembering the 43 lives lost in the Oso mudslide

The slide wiped out a neighborhood along Highway 530 in 2014. “Even though you feel like you’re alone in your grief, you’re really not.”

Director Lucia Schmit, right, and Deputy Director Dara Salmon inside the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management on Friday, March 8, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
How Oso slide changed local emergency response ‘on virtually every level’

“In a decade, we have just really, really advanced,” through hard-earned lessons applied to the pandemic, floods and opioids.

Ron and Gail Thompson at their home on Monday, March 4, 2024 in Oso, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
In shadow of scarred Oso hillside, mudslide’s wounds still feel fresh

Locals reflected on living with grief and finding meaning in the wake of a catastrophe “nothing like you can ever imagine” in 2014.

The view of Mountain Loop Mine out the window of a second floor classroom at Fairmount Elementary on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
County: Everett mining yard violated order halting work next to school

At least 10 reports accused OMA Construction of violating a stop-work order next to Fairmount Elementary. A judge will hear the case.

Imagine Children's Museum's incoming CEO, Elizabeth "Elee" Wood. (Photo provided by Imagine Children's Museum)
Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett will welcome new CEO in June

Nancy Johnson, who has led Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett for 25 years, will retire in June.

Kelli Littlejohn, who was 11 when her older sister Melissa Lee was murdered, speaks to a group of investigators and deputies to thank them for bringing closure to her family after over 30 years on Thursday, March 28, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘She can rest in peace’: Jury convicts Bothell man in 1993 killing

Even after police arrested Alan Dean in 2020, it was unclear if he would stand trial. He was convicted Thursday in the murder of Melissa Lee, 15.

Ariel Garcia, 4, was last seen Wednesday morning in an apartment in the 4800 block of Vesper Dr. (Photo provided by Everett Police)
Everett police searching for missing child, 4

Ariel Garcia was last seen Wednesday at an apartment in the 4800 block of Vesper Drive. The child was missing under “suspicious circumstances.”

The rezoned property, seen here from the Hillside Vista luxury development, is surrounded on two sides by modern neighborhoods Monday, March 25, 2024, in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Despite petition, Lake Stevens OKs rezone for new 96-home development

The change faced resistance from some residents, who worried about the effects of more density in the neighborhood.

Rep. Suzan DelBene, left, introduces Xichitl Torres Small, center, Undersecretary for Rural Development with the U.S. Department of Agriculture during a talk at Thomas Family Farms on Monday, April 3, 2023, in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Under new federal program, Washingtonians can file taxes for free

At a press conference Wednesday, U.S. Rep. Suzan DelBene called the Direct File program safe, easy and secure.

Former Snohomish County sheriff’s deputy Jeremie Zeller appears in court for sentencing on multiple counts of misdemeanor theft Wednesday, March 27, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ex-sheriff’s deputy sentenced to 1 week of jail time for hardware theft

Jeremie Zeller, 47, stole merchandise from Home Depot in south Everett, where he worked overtime as a security guard.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.