Settlement for Inmate Following Abuse Claims
A convicted murderer who transitioned from male to female while in prison has reached a significant settlement with the Oregon Department of Corrections after filing a lawsuit claiming mistreatment by staff during her time in a men’s prison.
Zella Laura Zombie, originally named Daniel Lee Smith, has been held at Coffee Creek Women’s Correctional Facility since April 2025. She was awarded $295,000 related to a 2021 lawsuit, as reported.
Zombie was convicted in 2014 for the murder of her girlfriend, Samantha Lee Brown, and received a 20-year sentence for murder along with an additional 15 years for first-degree assault against another inmate. She is not eligible for release until 2049.
As noted in the report, Zombie came out as transgender in 2020 and started hormone therapy. By 2022, she began looking into gender reassignment surgery while still incarcerated.
Out of the $295,000 settlement, she will receive $95,000, with her attorney taking $200,000 as fees.
Zombie alleged multiple incidents of sexual assault by cellmates at both Oregon State Penitentiary and Two Rivers Correctional Facility.
The lawsuit asserts that there was discrimination based on gender, claiming that housing women in men’s prisons violates the law. It also accused authorities of failing to comply with federal and state regulations meant to protect vulnerable individuals, housing inmates with known sex offenders, denying required counseling, and neglecting to report sexual assaults as legally mandated.
In 2023, a judge recognized Zombie as a socially vulnerable individual, resulting in an order for her to be placed in solitary confinement.
The ruling from U.S. District Judge Ann Aiken stated that it was unclear whether the prison system would prevent future placements that could lead to further assaults without court intervention. It emphasized that plaintiffs shouldn’t have to wait for another incident to seek protective measures.
While specifics of the lawsuit were not disclosed, a spokesperson from the Oregon Department of Corrections reiterated their commitment to tackling allegations of sexual assault seriously, noting that they have a zero-tolerance policy towards such abuse and are focused on ensuring safety within correctional facilities.
As for Zombie’s attorney, John Burgess, he did not provide any comments when contacted.
