BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) -- A wrongful death lawsuit has been filed against Kern County over an inmate's suicide in September 2023, alleging high-ranking county officials -- including the sheriff -- knew about ongoing issues with inmates' mental health care at jail facilities. The suit, filed in federal court by the parents of Matthew Lee Richards, also alleges civil rights violations and seeks damages in an amount to be proven at trial. County officials' "deliberate indifference towards inmates and detainees suffering from mental health issues resulted in dozens of suicides since 2008," according to the suit. "Since 2008, 22 inmates have died by suicide within the county jail -- six of which occurred in 2023 alone." On Sept. 2, 2023, Richards, 31, was found unresponsive in his cell at the Mojave Jail, a shoestring tied around his neck from the top bunk, according to the suit. He was taken to Antelope Valley Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead two days later. The deputy who found him didn't know exactly when Richards was last checked on, according to the suit, which describes other suicides that have taken place in county jails. "Matthew Lee Richards' dire need for emergency medical intervention went unnoticed by the KCSO custody and medical staff, who were responsible for monitoring and ensuring the welfare of all inmates . . .," the suit says. A scheduling conference is set for March.