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Contested death (2000 to present)

Kindra Chapman

Ruled suicideJul 14, 2015 · Age 18 · Homewood, AL

Who Kindra was

Kindra Darnell Chapman was 18. Her mother is Kathy Brady, and she had sisters and a brother. A relative told WBRC that she loved her siblings and "loved everybody," and that she had her whole life ahead of her.

In a statement after her death, her family said they wanted the world to know what a wonderful soul she was. She died on July 14, 2015, in the Homewood City Jail in Homewood, Alabama.

In the words of those who knew them

  • “She was a great person. She loved her sisters, her brother, she loved everybody.”A family member who asked not to be named, speaking to WBRC · source
  • “We want the world to know what a wonderful soul she was.”Her family, in a statement released to AL.com (as quoted by The Root) · source
  • “We are so grateful for the outpouring of support for Kindra. We are devastated that she is gone, and we miss her terribly.”Her family, in a statement released to AL.com (as quoted by The Root) · source

What happened

Kindra Chapman, 18, was booked into the Homewood City Jail in Alabama at 6:22 p.m. on July 14, 2015. Jailers last saw her alive about eight minutes later. Officers found her unresponsive in her cell that evening, and she was declared dead at a hospital at 8:36 p.m.

Kindra died a day after Sandra Bland was found dead in a Texas jail, and people online quickly linked the two cases. Her family first said they didn't believe she'd have taken her own life. On July 23, Jefferson County District Attorney Brandon Falls said a preliminary review of reports, a witness statement and jail video found no evidence of criminal wrongdoing. A coroner's report released July 27 listed the manner of death as suicide.

After meeting with authorities, Kindra's family said they accepted that finding, and they asked the public to rely on facts, not rumors. They also hired lawyers to look into how her death happened while she was in police custody. The suicide ruling stands, and no public dispute from the family has been reported since.

The case

Where found
A cell in the Homewood City Jail
Official finding
Suicide (Jefferson County coroner's report, reported July 27, 2015). The Jefferson County District Attorney's preliminary review found no evidence of criminal wrongdoing.
Time to finding
9 days to the DA's preliminary finding (July 23, 2015); 13 days to the coroner's report.
Investigation
Reviewed by the Jefferson County District Attorney's Office, the Jefferson County coroner's office and Homewood police. The DA said his office reviewed arrest and officer reports, the lead detective's report, a statement from another person held that evening and video from several cameras in and around the jail. The family hired lawyers to look into how she died in custody.
Family position
At first her family said they didn't believe she'd have taken her own life. After meeting with authorities, the family said in a statement that they accepted the finding. They kept lawyers on to look into how it happened in police custody.
Public evidence
She was booked at 6:22 p.m. on July 14, 2015, last seen alive at 6:30 p.m. and found unresponsive that evening. Staff tried to revive her, and she was declared dead at a hospital at 8:36 p.m. Her death came a day after Sandra Bland's, and social media posts linked the two cases.
Federal review
None reported
Last verified
2026-10-27
Verification note: Discovery time: WBRC says 7:42 p.m.; the Washington Informer says 7:50 p.m.

Sources

Record history

  1. Oct 27, 2026 · Reviewed update
    Record updated
    • Life updated
    • Remembered updated
    • Life sources updated
  2. Oct 24, 2026 · Reviewed update
    Case added
    • Name: Kindra Chapman
    • Age: 18
    • Date found: 2015-07-14
    • City or county: Homewood
    • State: AL
    • Status: Ruled suicide
    • Remembered updated
    • What happened updated
    • What happened sources updated
    • Where found: A cell in the Homewood City Jail
    • Official finding: Suicide (Jefferson County coroner's report, reported July 27, 2015). The Jefferson County District Attorney's preliminary review found no evidence of criminal wrongdoing.
    • Time to finding: 9 days to the DA's preliminary finding (July 23, 2015); 13 days to the coroner's report.
    • Investigation: Reviewed by the Jefferson County District Attorney's Office, the Jefferson County coroner's office and Homewood police. The DA said his office reviewed arrest and officer reports, the lead detective's report, a statement from another person held that evening and video from several cameras in and around the jail. The family hired lawyers to look into how she died in custody.
    • Family position: At first her family said they didn't believe she'd have taken her own life. After meeting with authorities, the family said in a statement that they accepted the finding. They kept lawyers on to look into how it happened in police custody.
    • Public evidence: She was booked at 6:22 p.m. on July 14, 2015, last seen alive at 6:30 p.m. and found unresponsive that evening. Staff tried to revive her, and she was declared dead at a hospital at 8:36 p.m. Her death came a day after Sandra Bland's, and social media posts linked the two cases.
    • Federal review: None reported
    • Verification note: Discovery time: WBRC says 7:42 p.m.; the Washington Informer says 7:50 p.m.
    • Sources updated
Kindra Chapman, Homewood, AL · Found Hanging: Case Tracker