Family of girl who died at youth detention center files lawsuit

The parents of a 16-year-old girl who died two years ago while in custody at Dalton's Elbert Shaw Regional Youth Detention Center have filed a civil lawsuit against five former employees of the center, including its then director, and Gilmer County.

Melanie Hogan Sluder and Ricky Shawn Curtis filed the lawsuit against Russell Ballard, Maveis Brooks, Monica Headrick, David McKinney and Rebecka Phillips in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia — Rome Division. The parents are represented by attorneys Romanucci & Blandin LLC of Chicago, Illinois, and The Boone Firm P.C. of Atlanta.

Read more press conference coverage from Charles Oliver in the Dalton Daily Citizen.