The widow of a Troy City Jail inmate who committed suicide in January is seeking $100,000 in damages from the city.

Cille Henderson, represented by Montgomery attorney Julian McPhillips, sent a letter to the city on June 19 seeking damages for the death of husband, Timothy Henderson, who died Jan. 29 while in the city jail.

Both the Troy Police Department and Troy Mayor Jason Reeves declined to comment on the letter, citing potential litigation.

Police reported on Jan. 30 that an investigation into an inmate’s death indicated the death was a suicide. At that time, Police Chief Jimmy Ennis said the inmate, whom the department did not name, was found unresponsive at about 11:30 p.m. on Jan. 29 and efforts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful.

In her letter to the city, Henderson wrote that her husband had been arrested for disorderly conduct after drinking at a friend’s home. Timothy Henderson, 46, had been previously arrested due to outstanding traffic violations and was out on bond. According to Henderson’s letter, her husband had threatened suicide if he had to go back to jail.

Following his arrest, Timothy Henderson was not given a “medical screening” to rule out if he would be a danger to himself but was provided with a sheet and blanket in his cell, according to the letter.

The letter notes jail policy prohibits giving a sheet and blanket to someone who could potentially be suicidal, is distraught, or has been drinking. Henderson also said jail employees did not follow-through with required 30-minute jail checks on the night her husband died.

The claim by Cille Henderson was sent to the City of Troy on June 19. McPhillips said he and his client hope “the city and its carrier will ensue the claim and the validity of it and the potential danger and will respond accordingly.”

The next step in the process is to schedule a meeting with the city or its representatives in order to negotiate, McPhillips said. If the city is not responsive, McPhillips noted Henderson would file suit against the city.