Mother of Campbell County inmate searches for answers after daughter’s death

JACKSBORO, Tenn. (WVLT) - It’s been nearly a month since the family of Faith Evans was told that their loved one had died in the Campbell County Jail, and they’re still unclear about what happened.

“Every morning, I get up crying; I go to bed crying,” said Phyllis Evans, who is Faith’s mom.

Evans said her daughter battled drug addiction but was recently arrested for a probation violation. During her short time in jail, she called her mom every day until the calls abruptly stopped, which made Evans concerned.

“I called that jail every day and said is my daughter ok? And they said ‘She’s fine, she’s fine.’ They reassured me,” said Evans.

Days later, Evans would get the call that her daughter, at just 26 years old, had died in the jail.

Over the following weeks, she voiced concerns over how her daughter was treated to Sheriff Wayne Barton. Sheriff Barton outlined some of those concerns in an interview with WVLT earlier this month.

“She was concerned that someone here had done something wrong. And I assured her that if the investigation here turned up that someone had done something wrong, there would be consequences for that, and if there’s enough to warrant a criminal prosecution, we would criminally prosecute them,” said Sheriff Barton.

While the TBI continues its thorough investigation, a mother anxiously awaits more information in the hopes of finding closure.

“This has been like a big ole nightmare that you’re never going to wake up from and I’m never going to get over,” said Evans.

According to investigators, the investigation into the in-custody deaths of Evans and 47-year-old Gary Wayne Burris could take several more weeks before it’s determined how they died.