…Researched and contributed by Solomon Thomas.
The family of LaShawn Thompson is demanding answers after he was found dead in a jail cell at the Fulton County Jail in Atlanta, Georgia.
Thompson, 35, was arrested on June 12 on a charge of battery.
Officials determined he had mental health issues and placed him in the psychiatric wing of the jail.
However, three months later, he was found dead.
According to Thompson’s lawyer, Michael D. Harper, his client was “eaten alive by bed bugs and insects”.
Harper described the case as one of the most inhumane deaths he had ever seen.
Shocking Prison Conditions
Harper claimed that prison records showed that although jailers and medical staff noticed that Thompson’s condition was deteriorating, they did nothing to help.
Pictures from inside the cell show shocking conditions that Harper says were “unfit for a dog”.
When a prison warder was called to give first aid to Thompson, she “freaked out” because there were so many bedbugs on his body.
Harper said that the scene was so horrific that she would not even administer CPR when she found him.
Cause of Death Undetermined
A report from the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office revealed that there were no signs of physical injury on Thompson’s body but noted a “severe bed bug infestation.”
His cause of death is currently listed as “undetermined.”
Thompson’s family is calling for accountability, and Harper is demanding that the Fulton County Jail be closed and replaced.
Recorded Deaths in Fulton County Jail
Since 2020, there have been 16 recorded deaths in Fulton County Jail.
The prison authorities have yet to reply to numerous requests for comment on Thompson’s death.
Tragic and Inhumane Death
Thompson’s death is a tragic and inhumane incident that highlights the deplorable conditions in which inmates are often held.
This incident underscores the need for prison reform and accountability. It is hoped that Thompson’s family will receive the answers they are seeking and that the Fulton County Jail will be held accountable for this inexcusable death.
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