Contested death (2000 to present)

Trumell K. Holmes

Ruled suicide, disputedMay 21, 2020 · Age 31 · Chicago, IL

What happened

Trumell K. Holmes, 31, was being held at the Cook County Jail in Chicago in May 2020. A judge had reduced his bond to home electronic monitoring in April, the sheriff's office said, but he stayed in custody because he didn't have a suitable place to stay.

On the evening of May 21, 2020, staff found Trumell unresponsive in a cell on a maximum security tier during a security check. They tried to revive him, and he was pronounced dead at 9:47 p.m. By the next day the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office had ruled the death a suicide. The sheriff's office opened a death investigation with the Illinois State Police Public Integrity Task Force.

His great-aunt, Diane Gardner, rejected the finding. "I don't believe he harmed himself," she told the Chicago Sun-Times, adding that he had talked with his sisters days earlier. The suicide ruling stands, and no charges or federal review have been reported.

The case

Where found: A cell on a maximum security tier of the Cook County Jail, while in pretrial custody
Official finding: Suicide (Cook County Medical Examiner's Office, reported May 22, 2020, by Fox 32)
Time to finding: About 1 day
Investigation: Cook County Sheriff's Office death investigation with the Illinois State Police Public Integrity Task Force. Sheriff's spokesman Matt Walberg said staff found him unresponsive during a security check shortly after 9 p.m. and tried to revive him; he was pronounced dead at 9:47 p.m.
Family position: His great-aunt, Diane Gardner, rejects the ruling: "I don't believe he harmed himself" (to the Chicago Sun-Times, via Fox 32). She said he had spoken with his sisters days earlier and that she believed someone may have been responsible.
Public evidence: No evidence of foul play was reported. The sheriff's office said a judge had reduced his bond to home electronic monitoring in April 2020, but he stayed in custody because he lacked a suitable place to stay.
Federal review: None reported.
Last verified: 2026-11-14

Verification note: Fox 32 reported only that he was found on a Thursday. May 21, 2020 is the Thursday before its May 22 report and matches the AFRO's list.

Sources

Record history

Nov 14, 2026 · Reviewed update
Record updated
- Verification note: Fox 32 reported only that he was found on a Thursday. May 21, 2020 is the Thursday before its May 22 report and matches the AFRO's list.
Oct 24, 2026 · Reviewed update
Case added
- Name: Trumell K. Holmes
- Age: 31
- Date found: 2020-05-21
- City or county: Chicago
- State: IL
- Status: Ruled suicide, disputed
- What happened updated
- What happened sources updated
- Where found: A cell on a maximum security tier of the Cook County Jail, while in pretrial custody
- Official finding: Suicide (Cook County Medical Examiner's Office, reported May 22, 2020, by Fox 32)
- Time to finding: About 1 day
- Investigation: Cook County Sheriff's Office death investigation with the Illinois State Police Public Integrity Task Force. Sheriff's spokesman Matt Walberg said staff found him unresponsive during a security check shortly after 9 p.m. and tried to revive him; he was pronounced dead at 9:47 p.m.
- Family position: His great-aunt, Diane Gardner, rejects the ruling: "I don't believe he harmed himself" (to the Chicago Sun-Times, via Fox 32). She said he had spoken with his sisters days earlier and that she believed someone may have been responsible.
- Public evidence: No evidence of foul play was reported. The sheriff's office said a judge had reduced his bond to home electronic monitoring in April 2020, but he stayed in custody because he lacked a suitable place to stay.
- Federal review: None reported.
- Verification note: Fox 32 says only "Thursday"; May 21, 2020 is inferred from its May 22 publication date and matches the AFRO's list. This is an in-custody death like the Sandra Bland record; reviewer should confirm scope.
- Sources updated