Former NFL quarterback and civil rights activist Colin Kaepernick is making headlines as he pays for an autopsy of a man who was allegedly “eaten alive” by bed bugs in an Atlanta jail.
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Colin Kaepernick Paying For Autopsy Of Man Who Was Allegedly ‘Eaten Alive’ By Bed Bugs In Jail
According to TMZ, Kaepernick learned about a 35-year-old man named LaShawn Thompson, who was found dead, under mysterious circumstances, in his Fulton County Jail cell back in September of 2022. Upon hearing about Thompson’s mysterious death, Kaepernick reached out to the family’s attorney, Ben Crump, in order to help pay for an independent autopsy.
Especially after the official autopsy conducted by local law enforcement resulted in a “undetermined” cause of death. Meanwhile, Thompson’s family believes that the “filthy” conditions that Thompson was exposed to at the jail, contributed to his mysterious death. And they appear to be right. According to an independent coroner, there were bugs and bug bites found all over Thompson’s body, and in the cell itself, there was a “severe” infestation of unspecified bugs.
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Thompson’s family released photos of his jail cell, showing how inhumane the conditions were, as well as pictures of his body as he was found. Once Kaepernick was told about the “filthy” conditions at Fulton County Jail, he was reportedly shocked and offered to shell out the money for the independent autopsy, which usually costs about $20,0000 to $50,000.
Elsewhere, it is reported that LaShawn was initially arrested in 2022 for a misdemeanor simple battery charge. Despite his arrest for a crime, Thompson’s family believes the conditions in which he, and other inmates endured, don’t fit as punishment for his crime.
Furthermore, Thompson family attorney Michael Harper spoke on the cell where LaShawn lived and later died. He said, “The cell he was in was not fit for a diseased animal. This is inexcusable and it’s deplorable.”
Harper added, “Mr. Thompson was found dead in a filthy jail cell after being eaten alive by insects and bed bugs.”
Additionally, in the wake of the outrage over Thompson’s jail cell conditions, and those overall in the jail, it is reported that three high-ranking jail officials have stepped down.
Speaking on it, a Fulton County Sheriff stated, “The ongoing investigation is examining details regarding the medical care provided and ultimately will determine whether any criminal charges are warranted in this case. It’s clear to me that it’s time, past time, to clean house.” The Sheriff added that they are making “sweeping changes” to the facility.
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