The family of a 27-year-old Colorado woman who died while in custody has filed a wrongful death lawsuit, alleging that jail medical staff ignored a known drug allergy and failed to respond to clear signs of a life-threatening reaction.
Ashley Raisbeck died on Dec. 16, 2023, while being held at the Jefferson County Detention Center in Golden. According to the lawsuit, medical personnel repeatedly administered an antibiotic that Raisbeck had explicitly told staff she was allergic to, even as her condition deteriorated and warning signs of shock mounted.
Raisbeck had been booked into the jail three days earlier after pleading guilty to false reporting. At the time of her incarceration, she was coming off drugs and placed on a detox protocol. The lawsuit states that Raisbeck had a documented history of drug addiction and had cycled through the jail system previously for minor offenses.
During her medical intake, a nurse noted sores on Raisbeck’s face, arms, and legs and began treating her for withdrawal. Medical records also reflected that Raisbeck had allergies to penicillin, Vicodin, and codeine — information that had been recorded during prior incarcerations as well.
A nurse readies a syringe during a free vaccination event for students and faculty at Iroquois High School. The event was voluntary for those wishing to receive vaccinations for measles and Covid-19.
Despite that documentation, the lawsuit alleges that another nurse prescribed cephalexin, commonly known as Keflex, a synthetic form of penicillin that is contraindicated for patients with penicillin allergies. During an earlier stay in jail, Raisbeck had refused Keflex for that exact reason and was given a different antibiotic instead.
This time, the lawsuit claims, Raisbeck was administered Keflex seven times over the course of her detention. After receiving the medication, she began to experience worsening gastrointestinal distress and a dangerous drop in blood pressure. According to the complaint, low blood pressure is not typical during drug withdrawal and is considered a medical red flag that should prompt immediate intervention.
The lawsuit alleges that a nurse who observed the falling blood pressure failed to notify anyone. Raisbeck also developed a pulse rate above 120 beats per minute, another warning sign that was allegedly ignored. As the medication continued, her symptoms escalated into muscle cramps and spasms — signs consistent with shock.
Instead of seeking emergency medical care, the lawsuit states that Raisbeck was told to drink water, even though she was unable to keep anything down. Her condition continued to worsen overnight.
On the morning of Dec. 16, a nurse and a sheriff’s deputy checked on Raisbeck in her cell and found her lethargic and unresponsive. The nurse was unable to locate a pulse, and Raisbeck’s blood pressure was recorded at a level described in the lawsuit as incompatible with life. Despite this, the nurse and deputy allegedly left her alone in her cell for approximately another hour while she was in what the lawsuit describes as the final stages of anaphylactic shock.
When the nurse returned, Raisbeck was given a seventh dose of Keflex.
Only then was Raisbeck placed into a wheelchair to be transported. According to the lawsuit, she lost consciousness during the move. A deputy later noted that her head had to be held upright, her feet dragged along the floor, and her eyes appeared blank and glazed.
Medical staff then administered multiple doses of Narcan, a drug used to reverse opioid overdoses, despite no clinical signs of opioid overdose. When 911 was eventually called, the lawsuit claims a staff member told dispatchers it was likely a fentanyl overdose, adding that such cases were common at the jail.
Paramedics arrived at 11:34 a.m. Raisbeck was pronounced dead at the hospital at 12:07 p.m.
An autopsy found no evidence of a fentanyl overdose. Instead, it cited severe dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, shock, and black vomit. The official cause of death was complications of intussusception, a serious condition in which part of the intestine folds into itself.
The lawsuit names the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, several county officials, and 11 medical staff members as defendants. Although a critical incident review found no criminal wrongdoing by law enforcement, the family’s attorney has criticized the investigation as inadequate, arguing it failed to meaningfully address the medical decisions that preceded Raisbeck’s death.
