Dead inmate's widow wants $10 million
By Elizabeth Billips Associate Editor

The widow of a hanged inmate wants the county to pay $10 million for his "wrongful death."

Burke County commissioners received an ante litem notice alleging that Ezumer Palmer, who was found hanging from a bed sheet Feb. 5, died as a result of "premeditated murder" - not suicide, as ruled three months ago.

And for that wrongful death, the notice says, $10 million is demanded by his common law widow, Johnnie Terrell, and others in his estate.

At the time of Palmer's death, he was incarcerated in Burke County Jail for trafficking in cocaine.

He had been arrested four days earlier when agents found two kilos of cocaine and $54,000 cash at his Keysville home.

His death was officially ruled a suicide in June, following a daylong inquest that included testimony from 27 witnesses, including jailers, inmates, investigators and Palmer's family members.

Three months before the inquest, Terrell was also arrested for trafficking in cocaine, but was never indicted.

The ante litem notice was filed on her behalf by the Bowen Law Firm out of Fairburn.