Inmate death at rural jail results in settlement for relatives

The case of a jail inmate who died in a rural lockup after repeated attempts by cellmates to alert staff to his deteriorating condition has been settled for $450,000.

“He wouldn’t eat. He wouldn’t drink,” said attorney Stephen Walsh. “He lost control of his bodily functions.”

According to Walsh, the decedent, Robert Charles Busby, spent most of his time conscious but largely non-verbal in a group cell with other prisoners telling jailers that help should be summoned.

“The other inmates were very vocal and very forceful but despite that, they didn’t do anything for him for four or five days,” Walsh said of staff.

Busby, who was being held after an arrest in nearby Iron County, was eventually taken to a hospital due to sepsis, atrial fibrillation, dehydration and liver problems. He passed away more than two weeks later with his 2023 death certificate listing renal failure as the cause.

Walsh said that jail staff didn’t even clean bodily waste off of the man, leaving that chore to fellow inmates who he said issued written complaints insisting that he needed medical assistance.

Walsh said that relatives were satisfied with the six-figure settlement, which came through mediation and he felt it could help them achieve closure.

The attorney said the case highlights ongoing problems in some outstate Missouri holding facilities.

“These country jails… are just tragedies waiting to happen because they don’t train sufficiently,” he said.

Walsh handled the case with attorney James Steward of St. Louis who did not return a request for comment.

A.M. Spradling III of Spradling and Spradling was listed as representing the defense in the matter and declined comment on the case.

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$450,000 settlement

Wrongful death

Venue: United States District Court Eastern District of Missouri

Case Number/Date: 1:24-cv-00111-MTS/August 26, 2025

Injuries: Death

Plaintiff’s experts: Jeffrey L. Chen, Sequim Wash., (medical)

Insurer: MOPERM

Caption: Daniel Busby & Laura Jungers v. Wayne County; Dean Finch, Christopher Schulz, Frank Henderson; Johnathan Mullins, Troy Declue, Christopher Canoy, Sherri Redden, Jessica Rennick

Plaintiffs’ Attorneys: Stephen Walsh, Walsh Law Firm LLC, (Poplar Bluff); John Steward, Steward Law Firm, (St. Louis)

Defendants’ Attorneys: A.M. Spradling, III, Spradling & Spradling, (Cape Girardeau)