The parents of a young man who died while detained allege that government officials failed to protect their son’s rights and safety, resulting in his death by asphyxia in a jail cell. Angela Ricard and Jeremy Miers filed a complaint on April 13, 2026, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana against the City of Vivian, several officials, police officers, corrections staff, and other unnamed parties.
According to the filing, Angela Ricard and Jeremy Miers bring this action individually and on behalf of their son Caiden R. Miers. The lawsuit names as defendants the City of Vivian; Mayor Ronnie Festavan; Doug Dominick; Vivian Police Department; Chief Ryan Nelson; various unknown police officers and civilian conspirators; Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office; Sheriff Henry Whitehorn Sr.; Caddo Correctional Center (CCC); CCC Health Services Division Director Lori Hayes; CCC Mental Health Division Director Lori Griffin; ADA Compliance Coordinator Sergeant Felicia Henry; and unknown transfer corrections officers.
The complaint states that Caiden R. Miers completed his sentence with the Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections on August 15, 2025. However, instead of being released after serving over a year in custody at CCC under Caddo Parish authority, he was transferred to Vivian Police Department based on what plaintiffs describe as an unlawful bench warrant for failure to appear—a charge they claim was not possible since he had been continuously incarcerated since July 26, 2024.
Plaintiffs argue that neither they nor their counsel received documentation verifying Caiden’s custodial status before issuance or execution of this warrant. They assert that “a failure to appear warrant cannot lawfully issue against an individual who is in continuous governmental custody,” yet CCC released him into VPD custody without inquiry or corrective action. The complaint further alleges that VPD officers accepted custody based on this “procedurally defective contempt warrant,” which should have been invalid because it related to charges already resolved through plea and sentencing.
Upon arrival at VPD jail late on August 15, 2025, Caiden was placed alone in a cell despite documented mental health issues including depression, anxiety, prior suicide watch episodes at CCC, and prescriptions for psychotropic medications. Plaintiffs claim standards require such detainees not be housed alone or left with potential ligature items like shoelaces—yet Caiden retained his sneakers with laces upon intake.
On August 16, 2025, Caiden was found deceased in his cell by incomplete hanging using his shoelaces. The Caddo Parish Coroner’s report listed time of death as 7:24 PM with no evidence of resuscitation attempts. Plaintiffs allege he may have been left unmonitored for up to 24 hours following transfer.
The lawsuit asserts violations under federal civil rights law (42 U.S.C. §1983), claiming deprivation of Fourth Amendment protection against unlawful seizure, Fifth Amendment double jeopardy protections, Eighth Amendment prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment due to deliberate indifference to known suicide risk, and Fourteenth Amendment due process rights. It also invokes corresponding protections under Article I sections 2-5 and section 20 of the Louisiana Constitution.
Plaintiffs state: “Defendants’ reliance on this procedurally defective failure to appear warrant directly and foreseeably exposed decedent to a heightened risk of serious harm.” They further allege failures by Mayor Festavan and Chief Nelson to train or supervise police staff regarding detention standards and legal sufficiency checks for warrants issued by Mayor’s Court.
In addition to federal claims, plaintiffs bring state law causes under Louisiana Civil Code Articles 2315 (assault/battery), 2315.1 (survival actions), 2315.2 (wrongful death), and 2315.6 (bystander emotional distress). They detail Caiden’s lifelong mental health challenges—including diagnoses such as Autism Spectrum Disorder—and recount efforts made by his parents during his incarceration leading up to his anticipated release date.
Angela Ricard describes learning about her son’s death only after repeated calls to VPD went unanswered or were met with evasive responses following his passing. She reports being denied access to see her son’s body upon arriving at the jail shortly after notification from the coroner’s office.
The plaintiffs request that all defendants be served with process and brought before the court for adjudication of these claims. They seek damages for loss suffered due to wrongful death as well as any other relief deemed just by the court.
Attorneys Mark A. Perkins (#18529) and Terri Kay Oliver (#34012) from Perkins & Associates LLC represent the plaintiffs in this matter under case number 5:26-cv-01163.
Source: 526cv1163_Angela_Ricard_v_City_of_Vivian_Complaint_Western_District_of_Louisiana.pdf
