On March 2, 2025, authorities in Alabama faced an uncommon incident at Crestwood Hospital when they apprehended 68-year-old John Mitchell Rigdon for third-degree Criminal Trespassing. Rigdon had been discharged from the hospital earlier in the day but inexplicably returned to the facility despite being previously banned.
The hospital staff reached out to the police, resulting in Rigdon’s arrest and transportation to the Madison County Jail for processing.
Upon arriving at the facility, medical personnel promptly recognized that Rigdon had a significant medical history, including a terminal condition. As a result, he was immediately admitted to the jail’s infirmary for urgent medical treatment, under the supervision of an on-call doctor.
Tragically, the situation took a devastating turn in the early hours of March 3, 2025. Around 4:30 a.m., Rigdon was discovered lifeless in his medical cell.
Despite the prompt action taken by detention officers and medical staff, they were unable to revive him. Rigdon was declared dead shortly after.
Sheriff Kevin Turner took to social media to express his condolences, acknowledging that an in-custody death is always a challenging situation for everyone involved, including facility staff members, medical staff, and emergency first responders. He expressed deep sadness in reporting the death of Mr. Rigdon and extended heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones during this trying time.
The sheriff’s office is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding Rigdon’s death. To determine the cause of death, an autopsy and toxicology report by the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences will be conducted.