Ellis family awarded $33 Million in Ottawa County Jail Death Case: Hopes for Reform Spark

Ottawa County Jail (KTUL)

TULSA, Okla. (KTUL) — On Aug. 11, NewsChannel 8 covered the case of Terral Ellis where nearly eight years ago he walked into the Ottawa County jail only to be taken out on a gurney 12 days later and pronounced dead, last time NewsChannel 8 spoke with the family they were waiting for the trial to begin.

A verdict has now been reached on Aug. 23, at 3 p.m., and the Ellis family will be awarded $33 million.

• RELATED | Case against Ottawa county over death of Terral Ellis set to beginThe following statement is from the Ellis family:
  

  The Ellis family is pleased with, and humbled by the jury’s verdict. The family waited years for their day in court. Terral Ellis was essentially tortured to death while housed in the Ottawa County Jail. With a modicum of humane treatment, his suffering and death were eminently preventable. The family is hopeful that the trial and $33 million verdict will spark long overdue reforms of the broken healthcare delivery systems in our county jails. Funds recovered by the Estate will be used to care for Terral’s son, who was just four years old when Terral tragically died.