Joseph Denton had no teeth when he entered the Rutherford County Adult Detention Center in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, in August 2022. He told jail staff at the time that he needed a soft diet because chewing had become difficult and painful without any teeth. According to a lawsuit filed by his grandmother, those requests were repeatedly ignored for nearly three years—and when Denton choked on a piece of chicken in May 2025, guards did nothing as other inmates screamed for help.
Background
Denton was 37 years old at the time of his death and suffered from several medical conditions that made daily life difficult. His orthopedic disease left him reliant on a wheelchair, and without any teeth, eating solid food was nearly impossible, according to the legal complaint filed in Rutherford County Circuit Court. The lawsuit names both Rutherford County and multiple jail staff members as defendants.
While being processed into the detention center in August 2022, Denton explicitly requested a soft diet due to his dental condition, the complaint states. Jailers were allegedly aware that he had no teeth and needed modified meals, yet he was "repeatedly and routinely served foods that were not consistent with a soft diet" throughout his incarceration.
The conditions at the facility have drawn scrutiny beyond Denton's death. The Rutherford County Adult Detention Center failed an inspection conducted by the Tennessee Corrections Institute in May 2025—the same month Denton died—for failing to provide adequate space to inmates, though food service was found to meet local standards at that time.
The Investigation
On May 31, 2025, jail staff served Denton a regular diet meal including chicken as his protein source. According to the complaint, Denton was in his cell on the second floor of the facility attempting to eat when he began choking.
Other inmates witnessed Denton struggling and rushed to help him while simultaneously calling and signaling for guards, jail staff, and medical personnel. The lawsuit alleges multiple staff members observed Denton choking but "refused and/or failed to offer assistance or call for help."
"Defendants could visibly see the decedent choking and/or heard the calls of other inmates and knew there was a medical emergency," the complaint reads.
The frantic pleas from fellow inmates went unheeded as Denton became unresponsive, briefly regained consciousness, then quickly deteriorated further into cardiac arrest, according to the legal filing. When medical staff finally responded, Denton was already "pulseless and unresponsive." CPR and other life-saving measures were administered, and emergency responders eventually arrived, but Denton never regained consciousness. His death certificate lists the cause as "complications of choking."
The Rutherford County Sheriff's Office declined to comment on Denton's death and the subsequent lawsuit when contacted by The Tennessean.
Key Takeaways
- Joseph Denton, 37, died May 31, 2025, at Rutherford County Adult Detention Center in Murfreesboro, Tennessee
- He had all his teeth removed before incarceration and repeatedly requested a soft diet starting August 2022
- Despite documented awareness among jail staff of his dietary needs, he was served regular food including chicken
- Inmates allegedly watched Denton choke while guards and staff ignored their calls for help
- The lawsuit, filed by Denton's grandmother, names Rutherford County and multiple jail employees as defendants
What's Next
The civil lawsuit seeks damages for what attorneys describe as wrongful death and gross negligence. No criminal charges have been announced in connection with Denton's death. The Tennessee Corrections Institute stated that agencies are required to provide adequate medical care comparable to what would be provided outside incarceration, including soft foods when deemed necessary by health authorities.