By Taylor Six
Lexington Herald-Leader
LEXINGTON, Ky. — A woman’s family is suing jail staff in Franklin County after they say employees failed to prevent a “predictable” escape attempt that ended in the woman’s death.
Brianna Hollon, 21, died in August 2023 after she jumped out of a van that was transporting her from a hospital to the Franklin County Regional Jail . Hollon had tried to escape three times before, the lawsuit says, but authorities failed to ensure she was properly restrained while being transported.
Because of her previous escape attempts, Hollon had shackles on her legs, wrists and waist during the ride. But she was still able to roll down the back window of the van and jump out, and the two staffers responsible for her care — deputy jailer Caitlin Hale and Sgt. Ashli Mayes — did not realize she was gone until Hale made a phone call sometime later.
Hollon had traumatic brain injuries and died a few days later.
The lawsuit, filed Sept. 6 by Hollon’s mother, Krystal Harrod, accuses seven corrections officers with the Franklin County jail and sheriff’s office of deliberate indifference, negligence, and wrongful death.
Officials with the Franklin County jail did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the suit.
Hollon was imprisoned at the jail in August 2023 when she unsuccessfully tried to escape three times. She was eventually transported to Frankfort Regional Hospital after appearing to have a seizure.
According to the lawsuit, while Hollon was hospitalized, Mayes told her if she tried to escape she would be “run over by a transport vehicle.”
Mayes also sent a text message that said, “I swear this (expletive) ain’t escaping,” the lawsuit alleges.
But when Hollon was transported back to the jail her handcuffs were “negligently placed,” the lawsuit claims, and the back windows of the van were not locked.
Another jail deputy went searching for Hollon and found her on the side of Coffee Tree Road, still breathing and with a pulse.
She was taken back to the Frankfort Regional Medical Center, where she was stabilized and flown via helicopter to the University of Kentucky Hospital. But she died a few days later.
It was later revealed that Hale, the transport officer, had been fired from the jail in March 2023 for insubordination, poor work quality, tardiness and policy violations, according to the lawsuit. She was not eligible for rehire, court documents state.
But Hale was rehired anyway on August 9 — just 20 days before Hollon’s death. In her hiring documentation seeking the transport position, Hale herself noted she lacked experience.
Mayes resigned in October 2023, according to records obtained the Herald-Leader.
“I have enjoyed my time being employed at Franklin Regional Jail but for unforeseen reasons I need to step down and away from the jail at this time,” Mayes wrote in her resignation letter.
Harrod is seeking punitive damages and a jury trial.
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