No charges filed in August overdose death at Boone County Jail
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
No criminal charges will be filed in an August 2024 overdose death that occurred at the Boone County Jail.
William Gipson, 43, of Ashland, died in custody at the Boone County Jail. The Boone County Medical Examiner determined that his death was the result of an accidental methamphetamine overdose.
Boone County Prosecuting Attorney Roger Johnson wrote in a letter “The actions of the deputies, officers, and jail staff involved were lawful,” based on a review from the Missouri State Highway Patrol, which included photographs, videos and the examiner’s report.
“As the involved personnel acted within the bounds of the law and the cause of death was unrelated to any criminal conduct by those individuals, no further legal action will be taken,” the letter says.
The examiner’s report in previous reporting stated that a peak blood concentration of meth of 20 ng/mL was reported after 2.5 hours after taking 12.5 mg orally. Gipson's blood had 3700 ng/mL, 125 times that amount.
The autopsy report stated Gipson had several blunt-force injuries including small cuts on his left cheek, upper back, right wrist and left leg. He also had a fracture due to resuscitative attempts, according to the report. There were also defibrillator electrodes on his chest at the time of the exam.
