An Atlanta Prisoner died in a US local jail after being eaten alive by bed bugs.
On 13th September, 35 years old man named Lashawn Thompson, was discovered dead inside his cell at the Fulton County Jail in Atlanta, Georgia. Thompson was arrested three months earlier on the charges of misdemeanor for simple battery.
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According to details, Thompson had been placed in the jail’s psychiatric unit after officers determined that he had mental health issues. Police officials told media that Thompson was found unresponsive in his jail cell and pronounced dead after failed life-saving attempts by local police and medical personnel.
There were no obvious signs of trauma found on Thompson’s body, there was an “extremely severe” infestation of small insects on Thompson’s body, and a “severe bed bug infestation” in the inmate’s cell.
The medical report also confirmed that Thompson had signs of cuts and wounds on his body from picking his skin.
Thompson family lawyer said, detention officers and medical staff at the jail had noticed Thompson’s health was deteriorating, but did nothing to administer aid or to help him.
“They literally watched his health decline until he died,” lawyer Mr. Harper said.
He added: “When his body was found, one of the detention officers refused to administer CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) because, in her words, she ‘freaked out’. The jail cell Mr Thompson was housed in was not fit for a diseased animal. He did not deserve this.”
The Fulton County Sheriff’s Office released a statement last Thursday saying it had launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Thompson’s death, and committed US$500,000 (S$665,000) to address vermin outbreaks in the jail.
According to Mr Harper, Thompson’s family is also calling the jail to be closed and replaced with a new facility. They plan to file a lawsuit against the jail.
