Suspicious or Unexplained Death

Tony Mitchell

Tony Mitchell, 33, died after two weeks in the Walker County Jail. His death was ruled a homicide caused by hypothermia, with sepsis from infected injuries sustained during incarceration and medical neglect listed as underlying causes. Later reporting says federal prosecutors charged jail and medical personnel, but the supplied sources do not establish the final outcome of all proceedings.

Incident date: January 26, 2023
Location: Jasper, Walker County
Independent sources: 8

The record

Anthony Don “Tony” Mitchell, 33, died Jan. 26, 2023, after two weeks in the Walker County Jail in Jasper. His death certificate listed hypothermia, with underlying causes of sepsis resulting from infected injuries sustained during incarceration and medical neglect. Walker County Coroner Joey Vick said the death was ruled a homicide. 15

Mitchell was arrested Jan. 12 after a relative requested a welfare check because of concerns about his mental state. The Walker County Sheriff’s Office said Mitchell brandished a handgun, fired at least one shot toward deputies and fled into woods before being taken into custody. 16

On Jan. 26, deputies transported Mitchell to Walker Baptist Medical Center in a patrol vehicle. Medical records cited by ABC 33/40 said he arrived unresponsive, pulseless and cold to the touch, with agonal breathing and an internal temperature of 72 degrees. A physician spent more than three hours attempting to resuscitate him. 156

Mitchell’s family alleged in federal litigation that jail personnel denied him adequate medical and mental-health care and subjected him to freezing conditions. The sheriff’s office and affiliated defendants denied wrongdoing and disputed the early allegation that Mitchell had been held in a freezer. 56

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency said in February 2023 that it was investigating at the sheriff’s office’s request. ABC 33/40 reported in 2024 that the FBI and Alabama State Bureau of Investigation were handling the inquiry. Sheriff Nick Smith said his office supplied video covering Mitchell’s jail stay and other requested records. 16

The criminal case advanced after the homicide ruling. In June 2025, 1819 News reported that former jail employee Braxton Kee signed an agreement to plead guilty to deprivation of rights. According to the report, Kee admitted that he failed to take reasonable steps to save Mitchell’s life. The agreement still required a federal judge’s approval. 7

ABC 33/40 later reported that the U.S. Attorney’s Office had charged 24 jailers and medical workers in connection with Mitchell’s death, with some defendants pleading guilty and others indicted. That December 2025 report also said court records showed the family’s related civil lawsuits had been settled. 2

The available sources do not establish the final disposition of all criminal proceedings. No person should be characterized as responsible for Mitchell’s death unless and until guilt is established in court.

Timeline

January 12, 2023Confirmed
Mitchell was arrested after a family-requested welfare check; the sheriff’s office said he fired at least one shot toward deputies before fleeing into woods.
January 26, 2023Confirmed
Mitchell was transported from the Walker County Jail to Walker Baptist Medical Center and died. Cited medical records placed his internal temperature at 72 degrees.
February 13, 2023Reported
Mitchell’s family filed a federal lawsuit over his death.
February 2023Confirmed
ALEA said it was investigating the death at the Walker County Sheriff’s Office’s request.
February 29, 2024Confirmed
ABC 33/40 reported that the death certificate classified Mitchell’s death as a homicide caused by hypothermia, with sepsis from infected injuries sustained during incarceration and medical neglect as underlying causes.
June 5, 2025Reported
1819 News reported that former jail employee Braxton Kee signed an agreement to plead guilty to deprivation of rights, subject to judicial approval.
December 9, 2025Reported
ABC 33/40 reported that 24 jailers and medical workers had been charged and that related civil lawsuits had been settled.

Documented claims

Anthony Don “Tony” Mitchell, 33, died Jan. 26, 2023, after two weeks in custody at the Walker County Jail.
Confirmed
Source: ABC 33/40 · Corroborated by 4 additional sources: https://abc3340.com/news/abc-3340-news-iteam/failure-of-humanity-cousin-recounts-horrors-faced-by-tony-mitchell-in-walker-county-jail, https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/03/04/alabama-inmate-tony-mitchell-homicide-hypothermia/72839215007/, https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/17/us/anthony-mitchell-alabama-jail-family-lawsuit, https://1819news.com/news/item/former-walker-county-jailer-to-plead-guilty-in-tony-mitchell-in-custody-death
Mitchell’s death was ruled a homicide; the death certificate listed hypothermia, with underlying causes of sepsis resulting from infected injuries sustained during incarceration and medical neglect.
Confirmed
Source: ABC 33/40 · Corroborated by 1 additional source: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/03/04/alabama-inmate-tony-mitchell-homicide-hypothermia/72839215007/
Mitchell was arrested Jan. 12, 2023, after a relative requested a welfare check because of concerns about his mental state; the sheriff’s office said he brandished a handgun, fired at least one shot toward deputies and fled into woods.
Confirmed
Source: ABC 33/40 · Corroborated by 2 additional sources: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/03/04/alabama-inmate-tony-mitchell-homicide-hypothermia/72839215007/, https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/17/us/anthony-mitchell-alabama-jail-family-lawsuit
Deputies transported Mitchell to Walker Baptist Medical Center in a patrol vehicle; cited medical records said he arrived unresponsive, pulseless and cold to the touch, with agonal breathing and an internal temperature of 72 degrees.
Confirmed
Source: ABC 33/40 · Corroborated by 3 additional sources: https://abc3340.com/news/abc-3340-news-iteam/failure-of-humanity-cousin-recounts-horrors-faced-by-tony-mitchell-in-walker-county-jail, https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/03/04/alabama-inmate-tony-mitchell-homicide-hypothermia/72839215007/, https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/17/us/anthony-mitchell-alabama-jail-family-lawsuit
Mitchell’s family alleged that jail personnel denied him adequate medical and mental-health care and subjected him to freezing conditions; sheriff’s-office defendants denied wrongdoing and said video showed he was not held in a freezer.
Disputed
Source: CNN · Corroborated by 1 additional source: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/03/04/alabama-inmate-tony-mitchell-homicide-hypothermia/72839215007/
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency said it opened an investigation at the Walker County Sheriff’s Office’s request; ABC 33/40 later reported that the FBI and Alabama State Bureau of Investigation were handling the investigation.
Confirmed
Source: ABC 33/40 · Corroborated by 1 additional source: https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/17/us/anthony-mitchell-alabama-jail-family-lawsuit
Former jail employee Braxton Kee signed an agreement to plead guilty to deprivation of rights and admitted failing to take reasonable steps to save Mitchell’s life; the agreement remained subject to judicial approval.
Reported
Source: 1819 News · Single-source claim.
ABC 33/40 reported in December 2025 that the U.S. Attorney’s Office had charged 24 jailers and medical workers in connection with Mitchell’s death, with some pleading guilty and others indicted.
Reported
Source: ABC 33/40 · Single-source claim.
ABC 33/40 reported that court records showed the Mitchell family had settled civil lawsuits related to his death.
Reported
Source: ABC 33/40 · Single-source claim.
The Walker County Jail is in Jasper, Alabama.
Reported
Source: USA TODAY · Single-source claim.

Sources

Death of Walker County inmate Tony Mitchell ruled homicide — ABC 33/40Open
‘This was torture’: Cousin recounts horrors faced by Tony Mitchell in Walker Co. Jail — ABC 33/40Open
After release of video, lawsuit claims Alabama man froze to death in police custody, was likely placed in jail freezer — CBS 42Open
More arrests likely in Tony Mitchell’s horrific Walker County Jail death, ‘the tip of the iceberg,’ lawyer says — AL.comOpen
Alabama man jailed in ‘the freezer’ died of homicide due to hypothermia, records show — USA TODAYOpen
Anthony Mitchell: Family files suit alleging death of an inmate in Alabama was due to hypothermia — CNNOpen
Former Walker County jailer to plead guilty in Tony Mitchell in-custody death — 1819 NewsOpen
Anthony Mitchell Walker County inmate death — WVTM 13Open