Sarah Shanks was found unconscious in her Knoxville driveway on January 20, 2023, later succumbing to her condition nine days later. While everyone agrees she should still be alive, the circumstances surrounding her death are fraught with controversy. Her husband, Ryan Shanks, an emergency room doctor, has filed a lawsuit against first responders and the hospital, claiming their negligence contributed to her death by failing to provide adequate medical care.
The lawsuit alleges that the responders mishandled her care—failing to intubate properly and perform CPR, and not acting with urgency. However, it provides limited details regarding Sarah’s initial condition or their marital issues. In contrast, Sarah’s family filed their own lawsuit, suggesting Ryan wanted to prevent her from divorcing him and thus bears responsibility for her death.
Sarah had separated from Ryan and sought legal counsel for divorce before her passing. The family describes Ryan as controlling, pointing out incidents where he allegedly monitored her communications. On the night leading to her hospitalization, Ryan reportedly expressed suicidal thoughts to Sarah’s parents, while Sarah consumed alcohol and sleeping pills, leading to panic attacks.
After paramedics arrived, Sarah went into cardiac arrest shortly thereafter; she had severe oxygen deprivation and tissue damage evident in medical imaging. The Knoxville District Attorney deemed the case “highly suspicious,” highlighting Ryan’s mental state and their marital instability, but did not file charges due to inconclusive autopsy results. Ryan’s attorney dismissed the family’s allegations as false, insisting that the case is still under scrutiny as the couple’s troubling relationship dynamics become more apparent.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image associated with the presented article. Due to copyright reasons, we are unable to use the original images. However, you can still enjoy the accurate and up-to-date content and information provided.
