Central Kentucky nurse admits to lying about examining inmate who later died
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Sabina Trivette pleaded guilty to false declarations before a court.
- Court records say she never took his vitals while he was in observation.
- She must surrender her Kentucky nursing license and cannot work in medicine again.
A Kentucky nurse who previously worked in a Central Kentucky jail has pleaded guilty to perjury after admitting to lying about examining someone at the jail who later died in custody.
Sabina Trivette pleaded guilty to false declarations before a court Tuesday. Court documents say she falsely testified that she checked Dylan Stratton’s vitals one day before he was found dead inside his cell at the Franklin County jail.
Stratton was an inmate on Jan. 17, 2019, when he started showing signs of withdrawal from controlled substances upon his incarceration. Court documents say Stratton had a seizure one day later and was placed in a private observation cell.
Stratton’s health deteriorated after the seizure. Court documents say he experienced frequent hallucinations and psychosis behavior, and telephonic mental health clinicians recommended a medical evaluation for him.
On Jan. 23, 2019, Stratton was found unresponsive in his cell and pronounced dead shortly afterward, according to court documents.
Stratton’s administratrix of his estate sued Trivette, her employer and several other defendants July 16, 2019, claiming jail staff and nurses failed to provide adequate medical aid for Stratton, according to court records. Trivette was a nurse at the jail employed by a health services corporation during Stratton’s incarceration.
Trivette was deposed in the lawsuit April 15, 2021, and repeatedly claimed to have evaluated Stratton one day before he died, according to court documents. She said she recorded Stratton’s blood pressure and blood oxygen saturation during the exam.
Trivette lied during her testimony, knowing that it would have an influence in the court’s decision-making on the lawsuit. Court documents say she never entered Stratton’s cell or took his vital signs the day before he died or on the days he was detained in the observation cell at the jail.
Trivette was dismissed from the lawsuit Aug. 12, 2022, according to court documents. The entire lawsuit was dismissed from the record that same day after the other defendants were dismissed.
For pleading guilty in the criminal case, Trivette could spend up to five years in prison. She also faces a maximum fine of $250,000 and one year of probation, according to court documents.
Trivette is also required to surrender her Kentucky nursing license and any licenses from other jurisdictions, according to court documents. She’s not allowed to seek employment in the medical field ever again.
Sentencing for Trivette is scheduled for Aug. 4. She has been released from custody but is not allowed to travel outside the Eastern District of Kentucky prior to sentencing, according to court documents.
This story was originally published May 8, 2026 at 11:50 AM.
