Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
West Virginia corrections officials are admitting no wrongdoing, but have made a $700,000 settlement in the violent death of a man at North Central Regional Jail.
Nathan Kennedy died in the booking area of the North Central Regional Jail in September 2023 – not long after he arrived at the Doddridge County lockup from Wood County. His family’s lawsuit alleged Kennedy was in a medical crisis, but was pepper sprayed, tased, assaulted and restrained in a cage-like chair as his condition worsened.
About three hours after arriving at North Central Regional Jail, Kennedy was dead. The death certificate indicates physical struggle with blunt force injuries and restraint procedures and calls the death a homicide.
A Kanawha County judge has now approved a $700,000 settlement with the West Virginia Division of Corrections and its employees.
“During his time up there, which was only about three hours, he got pepper sprayed, he got tased over 15 times, he got beaten with fists,” Kennedy family lawyer L. Dante’ diTrapano said. “He was up to a point where his blood pressure dropped all the way to 42/36. They called EMS, and by the time they got there, he was pronounced dead."
The deal resolves the action against corrections and individual officers named in the lawsuit. WCHS also learned the death was presented to a Doddridge County grand jury, which returned a no true bill – meaning the grand jury did not return a criminal indictment.
“This has no place in society,” Kennedy family lawyer Jesse Forbes said. “It has no place in civilization. This something out of some sort of Medieval torture establishment. This should not occur in West Virginia."
Corrections officials issued a statement indicating it's not "the practice of this agency to comment on current or settled litigation." Forbes and diTrapano say the payment does not end the case.
Claims remain pending against Wexford Health, the company that provided medical care at the jail.
The family’s attorneys say they hope the civil case leads to accountability and changes inside West Virginia’s jail system.
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West Virginia corrections officials are admitting no wrongdoing, but have made a $700,000 settlement in the violent death of a man at North Central Regional Jail.
Nathan Kennedy died in the booking area of the North Central Regional Jail in September 2023 – not long after he arrived at the Doddridge County lockup from Wood County. His family’s lawsuit alleged Kennedy was in a medical crisis, but was pepper sprayed, tased, assaulted and restrained in a cage-like chair as his condition worsened.
About three hours after arriving at North Central Regional Jail, Kennedy was dead. The death certificate indicates physical struggle with blunt force injuries and restraint procedures and calls the death a homicide.
A Kanawha County judge has now approved a $700,000 settlement with the West Virginia Division of Corrections and its employees.
“During his time up there, which was only about three hours, he got pepper sprayed, he got tased over 15 times, he got beaten with fists,” Kennedy family lawyer L. Dante’ diTrapano said. “He was up to a point where his blood pressure dropped all the way to 42/36. They called EMS, and by the time they got there, he was pronounced dead."
The deal resolves the action against corrections and individual officers named in the lawsuit. WCHS also learned the death was presented to a Doddridge County grand jury, which returned a no true bill – meaning the grand jury did not return a criminal indictment.
“This has no place in society,” Kennedy family lawyer Jesse Forbes said. “It has no place in civilization. This something out of some sort of Medieval torture establishment. This should not occur in West Virginia."
Corrections officials issued a statement indicating it's not "the practice of this agency to comment on current or settled litigation." Forbes and diTrapano say the payment does not end the case.
Claims remain pending against Wexford Health, the company that provided medical care at the jail.
The family’s attorneys say they hope the civil case leads to accountability and changes inside West Virginia’s jail system.
_________________________________________
Follow WCHS on social media:
Facebook: facebook.com/eyewitnessnewscharleston
Twitter: twitter.com/wchs8fox11
Instagram: instagram.com/wchs8fox11
For the latest local and national news, visit our website: wchstv.com
Sign up for our newsletter: wchstv.com/sign-up
