El Paso County settles $1.5M lawsuit in inmate’s death

(EL PASO COUNTY, Colo.) — El Paso County has agreed to settle a lawsuit involving the death of an inmate at the county jail for more than $1 million.

Savannah Poppell died in 2022 after being found unresponsive in her cell. The preliminary autopsy indicated Poppell’s death was likely because of an upper gastrointestinal bleed from an esophageal tear that resulted from vomiting in the setting of substance withdrawal.

On Tuesday, Oct. 15, the El Paso County Board of Commissioners approved a $1.5 million settlement, but the agreement does not admit fault.

The settlement comes amidst criticism aimed at the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office (EPSO), after seven deaths were reported at the jail the year of Poppell’s death.

FOX21 News has reached out to EPSO for comment and is waiting to hear back.

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