Lawsuit that blamed Bibb County sheriff for inmate’s suicide is headed to federal court
A lawsuit that blamed the Bibb County Jail staff after an inmate died by suicide in 2023 has been moved to federal court, records show.
The guardian of Troyce Billingslea’s two young daughters filed a lawsuit Jan. 7 against Sheriff David Davis and other employees at the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office, as well as CorrectHealth, which operates the jail infirmary. The defendants were accused of being at fault for the death of Billingslea, court records show. The lawsuit was filed in Bibb County Superior Court, but attorneys for the employees argued it should be a federal case and removed it to federal court earlier this month.
Court records show the attorneys for Bibb County jail staff say they were accused of violating the victim’s rights under the 14th Amendment and violating his civil rights, allegations which should be in federal court rather than state court.
The lawsuit was filed against 10 defendants:
- CorrectHealth, which operates the infirmary at the jail
- Kendra Orange (nurse)
- Harold Franklin (detention officer)
- Brannon Grace (detention officer)
- Jorge Morera (detention officer)
- Michael Rhodes (detention officer)
- Terralyn Taylor (detention officer)
- Eric Woodford (jail captain)
- David Davis (sheriff)
Orange was accused of being negligent, with CorrectHealth being held liable for her actions, court records show. Detention officers are accused of failing to follow the policy that prevents inmates from committing suicide, according to the lawsuit. Woodford and Davis are accused of failing to train jail staff on these procedures and uphold them.
Other than staff failing to follow policy, the lawsuit also ssays understaffing at the jail contributed to Billingslea’s death. Those filing the lawsuit said Billingslea showed signs of being suicidal, and he wasn’t properly cared for.
“Despite his repeated expressions of suicidal ideation, witnessed by inmates and reported to staff, those responsible for his safety failed him at every turn,” the lawsuit says. “The medical professional dismissed his vulnerability, the jailers neglected their duty to check on him and the leadership allowed the jail to remain dangerously understaffed.”
‘Tell her that I’m sorry’
Billingslea was being held prior to his trial on charges of a probation violation, gun possession, aggravated assault and murder, according to records obtained from the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office.
Orange visited Billingslea’s cell after hearing he had expressed suicidal ideations and asked if he was suicidal, but Billingslea said “he was fine” and just wanted “to get out of his cell,” according to her report, which was referenced in the lawsuit. She then left, the lawsuit said.
The following day, on Sept. 3, 2023, inmates found that Billingslea had died by suicide at 12:23 p.m.
Once inmates had yelled at detention officer Harold Franklin that Billingslea had died, he ran with a medical bag to his cell. An inmate helped Franklin remove Billingslea’s body and began chest compressions, but he never found a pulse, according to an internal affairs report, which was referenced in the lawsuit.
Billingslea had left a note with a phone number that instructed the reader to call the number and “tell her everything that happened and tell her that I’m sorry but it was all just too much for me.”
“Tell her to also apologize to my babies for me and tell them I love them so much,” the note continued. “Let her know I tried to go to suicide watch earlier today.”
This story was originally published February 27, 2025 at 10:55 AM.
