A woman is expressing concerns about her brother, who is a prisoner in Alabama, claiming that his health is deteriorating there and that he is not getting the required care.
Kassie Vaughan said on Facebook on Wednesday that Kastellio, a prisoner at the Elmore Correctional Facility, was in good health when she last saw him in late July. The family’s worries have increased in light of recent images she got from her brother that had the phrase “GET HELP.”
“These pictures show how severely undernourished he is. He is frail and exposed in these specific photographs, unable to stand or walk, the popular Facebook post wrote, adding, “I am not a doctor, but his health seems to be declining.”
According to WBRC, Kastellio, 32, is now serving a 25-year sentence on crimes related to first-degree robbery and breaking and entering a car. According to Vaughan, who claimed that her brother only got the “basic minimum,” medical attention was sought when he disclosed that he had gastrointestinal issues.
According to the article, Vaughan said she found out through another prisoner that her brother was undergoing surgery without their knowledge and that a portion of his small intestine was taken out during the treatment. The family got in touch with the Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) right once, and they were informed that Kastellio was being cared for.
However, after not hearing back from ADOC, the family chose to spread awareness on social media after they got the images, as reported by WBRC.
The ADOC said in a statement sent to the TV station that they “He has received all required care for his health after a thorough clinical investigation of his circumstances. He has also spoken with his family to provide them an update on his predicament.” (When Insider contacted ADOC for comment, they did not answer right away.)
The family denied making contact with ADOC, according to the investigation.
The family engaged prominent civil rights attorney Lee Merritt, who said in a news statement on Friday that they are looking into the situation.
The Vaughan family thinks that Mr. Vaughan was returned to general population at Elmore Correctional Facility on the same day as his operation and was quickly dismissed from the hospital, according to the press statement. “Vaughan’s health quickly deteriorated as a result of subpar conditions, abuse, and medical negligence. In less than a month, Vaughan is said to have shed 75 pounds of body weight.”
The statement went on to say: “To make sure Mr. Vaughan gets the treatment needed for his illness, my office has started working. We are also looking into whether state of Alabama agents failed in their duty of care to Mr. Vaughan by allowing his health to deteriorate to the extent seen in the photographs that are now becoming viral online.”
To aid Kastellio, the family started a GoFundMe, and as of Saturday, it had amassed $23,772. He was sent to Staton Correctional Facility, according a revised note on the website.
“His health situation is a mystery to us at this time. Attorney Lee Merrick, our attorney, is making every effort to help. We appreciate you, “stated the fundraiser. We value the financial support for my brother and whatever else we need to get him medical care.