Woman Dies of Overdose in Hartford Police Custody, Family Sues

Lawsuit alleges negligence and failure to provide medical care despite clear signs of distress

Apr. 13, 2026 at 9:00am

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An extreme close-up photograph of a shattered glass syringe against a pitch-black background, conceptually representing the dangers and consequences of the opioid crisis.A shattered syringe symbolizes the devastating human toll of the opioid epidemic, as one woman's death in police custody sparks a wrongful death lawsuit.Hartford Today

The family of Linda Praylow, a 49-year-old woman who died of a fentanyl overdose while in custody at the Hartford Police Department in 2024, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the city and police. The lawsuit alleges that officers were negligent and failed to provide Praylow with adequate medical care despite her visible signs of distress and her own report of recent fentanyl use.

Why it matters

This case highlights ongoing concerns about the treatment of individuals with substance abuse issues in police custody and the need for better protocols to ensure their safety and access to medical care. It also raises questions about the thoroughness of internal investigations into in-custody deaths.

The details

According to the lawsuit, Praylow was arrested on April 5, 2024 on larceny and failure to appear charges. When booked, she told police she had recently used fentanyl. Over the next 30 hours in custody, surveillance footage showed Praylow appearing restless, uncomfortable, and at times vomiting. Despite this, the lawsuit alleges police failed to call for medical attention or check on her as required by department policy. Praylow was found motionless on the cell floor 15 minutes before being transported to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

  • Praylow was arrested around 9 p.m. on April 5, 2024.
  • Praylow spent about 30 hours in custody before her death on April 7, 2024.
  • Praylow was found motionless on the cell floor at 2:44 a.m. on April 7, 2024.
  • Praylow was pronounced dead at 3:51 a.m. on April 7, 2024 at Saint Francis Hospital.

The players

Linda Praylow

A 49-year-old woman who died of a fentanyl overdose while in police custody in Hartford, Connecticut in 2024.

Sheena Melendez

Praylow's sister-in-law, who was appointed the administratrix of her estate and filed the wrongful death lawsuit.

Ryan Daugherty

The attorney from Koskoff Koskoff & Bieder who filed the lawsuit on behalf of Praylow's family.

Robert Devlin, Jr.

The former Connecticut Inspector General who investigated Praylow's in-custody death and found police should have provided more medical attention.

Arunan Arulampalam

The mayor of Hartford, whose office declined to comment on the pending litigation.

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What they’re saying

“This case is about a woman who should still be alive today. The warning signs were clear. Ms. Praylow told officers she had recently used fentanyl and was visibly sick while in custody. The law requires that people in police custody receive adequate medical care, and there is no question that she was visibly in distress. Linda Praylow's rights were disregarded, and we believe that negligence resulted in her death.”

— Ryan Daugherty, Attorney

“Linda's death was completely preventable. She was clearly suffering and needed help. Instead, she was left alone in a cell while her condition worsened. No family should have to learn that their loved one died this way.”

— Sheena Melendez, Praylow's Sister-in-Law

What’s next

The lawsuit demands a jury trial and is seeking compensatory and punitive damages. The case will now proceed through the federal court system.

The takeaway

This tragic case underscores the urgent need for police departments to have robust protocols in place to identify and properly respond to medical emergencies among individuals in custody, especially those with known substance abuse issues. Failure to provide adequate care can have devastating consequences.