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Family Of Cantonment Murder Suspect That Killed Himself In Jail Files Lawsuit
December 29, 2022
The family of a Cantonment murder suspect that took his own life in the county jail has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Escambia County and two corrections officers.
Lukas MacKenzie Snelson, 24, was charged with second degree homicide, grand theft of a motor vehicle and resisting arrest for the death of his grandmother, 75-year old Fran Fournier.
On December 30, 2021, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to the end of Candy Lane in Cantonment for a death investigation. Fournier was found deceased, seated in a recliner with two dog leashes wrapped around her neck, according to an arrest report. Snelson was arrested hours later.
A few days after his arrest, Snelson was found hanging in his cell and later died at a local hospital.
The lawsuit claims Snelson was not provided proper mental health care and was not protected from self-harm.
“Escambia County and its corrections staff were deliberately indifferent to the medical needs and constitutional rights of Mr. Snelson who left behind a 2-year-old son at the time of his death,” the lawsuit states.
“His death could have been prevented if Jail staff assisted him during the 40-minute period when the make-shift rope was tied around his neck, or if someone had changed the broken lights in his cell, used a flashlight during the visual checks, or actually confirmed that he was breathing during the visual checks,” the suit contends.
Below: The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office investigates the murder of a Cantonment woman on Candy Lane on December 30, 2021. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Comments
32 Responses to “Family Of Cantonment Murder Suspect That Killed Himself In Jail Files Lawsuit”
@4u2nv,
Say you jump to conclusions without saying you jump to conclusions. I don’t even know these people.
@Carl,
Florida statute 768.16
If someone wants to end their life its on them. No other person should be held in account. but some people see dollar signs.
I agree with RaD…sad, but true…he was never tried and convicted of this horrid “alleged”crime. The jail still had certain duties to keep him safe. Of course, morally, I’m hard pressed to feel any sympathy for this fellow. But, legally speaking, there is a case to be considered. Regardless, if the family receives any compensation, I just hope that the 2 year old has that money placed in a trust for his future needs.
It dont matter what his state of mind was..who knows anyones state of mind.
Killing anyone is not justified…MURDER and excuse me..state of mind as a defense.
Ambulance chasers as any lawyer are in it for some cash..they dont care if your innocent or guilty.
They think handling this case will put them on the map….AND THIS CHASER WILL BE ON THE MAP.
Lawyers feed on your emotions…neeever think they have your best interest at heart.
Thats not their job.
Thats their training..
Wished the poor dear would have been locked and loaded.
How the hell do you feel anything for any person who kills a human that is your family.
Family..get a life..get a job…grandma is gone..and your lifestyle led up to this.
She cant support you anymore.
So suing the county because the hangmen were prematurely cheated out of performing their duty? Face it, suing family, this murderer was destined for the needle or even “Old Sparky” if he preferred it. And this may be a harsh reality, but there never was going to be a continual family relationship with his child.
What kind of lawyer would take that.he was not mental.he was on drugs.when he came down off of them he kill hiself.she help raise those kids.they got enough out of that sweet lady.the cops was not at no fault.they just want money.what a shame
@just saying
Say you’re a family member without saying you’re a family member
If he had not killed his grandmother he would not have been in jail and he would still be alive. If his family thought he had a mental problem why didn’t they babysit him.
@ Just Saying
“and, by law, any jury must find in favor of the family”
And which law and case file could you direct us to.
Court of public opinion has no legal standing.
Good grief
Good grief, He killed his grandma. Wow a lawsuit. Lol
I hate to break it to all of you, but, if the allegations the attorney made are true, then the jail was negligent and, by law, any jury must find in favor of the family.
I agree that the family deserves nothing but a safe bet is this will settle out of court in the next few months for a few hundred thousand. NDA’s will be signed and part of the agreement will be no guilt admitted. It is not about what is right or wrong but rather the cost of mounting a defend and that is probably $250-300K minimum.
Until US Tort law stipulates the winner pays reasonable legal fees of both parties, lawsuits of this nature will continue to be filed and settled out of court.
Money greed.
This suit will fail and I hope it crashes and burns.
No sympathy here..just for grandma.
Pathetic lot they are.
He wasn’t concerned about his two year old child when he committed the crime. Must be an upstanding family with their attempt to profit off the suicide by filing a lawsuit. I hope they walk away with absolutely nothing. Unbelievable that an attorney would even take the case. What a horrible way for the grandmother to have died. The two year old will miss out on the relationship that he could have had with her.
So the family does not care that their grandmother died a horrific death?
Some where along the way, people need to take responsibility for their actions.
I think Grandmother helped this grandchild out to the point that she couldn’t help any longer. He didn’t like that.
It’s so horrible the way this poor woman died. I’m not saying the grandson couldn’t have gotten help, but it looks like he didn’t want it and took the easy way out.
Now it’s up to the rest of the family to get their heads on straight. Prayers for all.
Better hope I’m not picked for jury duty on this “Wrongful Death”. He got exactly what he deserved, eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth.
I wonder if the grandmother was given any consideration before being killed?
And if the family cared so much about his mental health why did they not seek treatment for him before he killed?
Makes one wonder about the care and concern after the fact.
Spend a week outside of FL and watch TV. It seems FL TV is just full of Attorney advertisements. People think they can get rich quick by calling any attorney.
At least I know where these people get the idea to sue. They’re are just playing the law lotto!
Maybe the county should file a counter suit against the family member, or members that are filing the lawsuit. For not providing a safe environment for his grandmother.
A low life chose not to face the punishment for his crimes, and now the rest of the low life family is trying to cash in on it. Why work for an honest wage when you can file a frivolous lawsuit for easy money? And lawyers don’t care so long as they get their 40%.
Very sad all the way around for the family but this man killed a precious woman for no good reason then killed himself out of guilt. Period.
He killed his Grandmother. I hope this suit is dismissed and the family is demanded to pay for investigative expenses!
Really? filing a lawsuit for a criminal punk. shows what kind of family he came from.
How greedy and stupid…
True blue…
If society is at fault for your suicide, then its our fault foe every homeless person.
ECSO didnt kill that woman and look at how she died!
Case needs to be thrown out and lawyer needs to pay cost for wasting systems time with frivolous case…
He left behind a 2 yr old son when he chose to commit the crime! Had he not committed those crimes, he’d of not been in jail. His choice to do what he did. It’s sad and unfortunate for the son.
He killed his grandmother, a part of the same family! He killed himself, nobody else did it to him. Greedy people, bottom line. This shouldn’t even be allowed to go to court!
This is just sick that the family would try and get money from this after what he did to his own grandmother, he shouldn’t have made it into the jail..
This is ridiculous. He chose to commit suicide, people need to be held accountable for their decisions. It’s not the county jails fault this individual made terrible choices.
Sorry for the family at the losses you suffered. But he did it to himself and no amount of money will change that. Also if I was on the jury you would get NOTHING.
That poor woman was a saint and that family mmmm mmm mmm..Sounds like a slam dunk for the snelson family purely negligence on ecso part …gotta replace the lighting and make sure every inmate is still breathing while taking a nap don’t forget to burp after feeding to keep from spitting up..wow