In September of 2019, John Adena suddenly passed away in a northern California county jail. John's family members, after 15 months of being left in the dark, were finally given some answers about his death. The coroner's report revealed an ugly truth. John's injuries were consistent with someone who was severely beaten, and even smothered. Furthermore, it was revealed that John was ignored requests for medical care. In April of 2021, John's family filed a wrongful death suit against Shasta County and several county employees, including the former Sheriff, and Wellpath LLC, the company responsible for the local inmates' healthcare. The Woman Beings sit down with Michelle Gallagher, sister of John Adena, to talk about the events preceding and following John's death, the lawsuit, her process of grieving, and how this tragedy has caused her to become an advocate for better systems in her county's correctional facilities. In a political climate where tensions are high against law enforcement, Michelle advocates for transparency, awareness, and most importantly hard conversation. Being married to a State Highway Patrolman has placed her right at the center of the issue, and she shares her tension in fighting for better systems, while also honoring the law enforcement officers who are putting their lives on the line for their communities.  

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