Parents sue monmouth county and howell township after son’s jail suicide

FREEHOLD, NJ – The parents of a 27-year-old man who died by suicide inside the Monmouth County Correctional Institution have filed a wrongful death and civil rights lawsuit against Monmouth County, Howell Township, Sheriff Shaun Golden, and others, alleging widespread negligence and failure to prevent his death.

The lawsuit, filed October 17 in Monmouth County Superior Court by attorney Thomas J. Mallon of Freehold, names more than a dozen defendants, including Howell Township Police Officer David Jimerson, Howell Police Chief John Storrow, Warden Victor Iannello, Monmouth County, Wellpath Inc. — the jail’s medical contractor — and several unnamed corrections officers and township employees.

According to the complaint, Jeremy Framolaro was arrested by Howell Township police on February 24, 2025, after sending text messages indicating he was suicidal. Officer Jimerson allegedly documented in his probable cause affidavit that Framolaro had stated he was “down for suicide by car.” Despite this, the lawsuit claims that police failed to notify correctional staff of Framolaro’s suicidal intentions when he was transported to the county jail.

Framolaro was later found dead inside the Monmouth County Correctional Institution, having hanged himself with a bed sheet. The complaint alleges he endured conscious pain and suffering before his death.

The suit accuses both Howell police and jail staff of negligence, inadequate supervision, and failure to follow established suicide prevention procedures. It also asserts that Monmouth County officials — including Sheriff Golden and Warden Iannello — failed to properly train and oversee correctional officers and ignored prior deficiencies in suicide prevention policies.

Wellpath Inc., which provides inmate medical and behavioral health services, is accused of failing to screen Framolaro for suicidal ideations during intake and of placing him in a cell with insufficient supervision and access to materials that enabled his suicide.

The Framolaros are seeking damages under New Jersey’s Wrongful Death and Survivor’s Acts, as well as under the state Civil Rights Act, alleging violations of Jeremy Framolaro’s constitutional rights to safety and due process while in custody.

The lawsuit requests compensatory and punitive damages, attorney’s fees, and a jury trial. No defendants have yet filed a response to the complaint.

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