An inmate’s family is seeking answers after he died in a ‘filthy’ jail cell in the psychiatric wing of Fulton County Jail.
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LaShawn Thompson,35, died on September 13, three months after he was arrested on misdemeanor battery charges. On Thursday, his family held a press conference with their attorney Michael Harper where they sought a criminal investigation against the Fulton County Jail for their loved one’s death. According to MEAWW, Thompson died in a jail cell riddled with bedbugs and lice, and medical staff reportedly ignored his “deteriorating” condition weeks before his death. The family also said Thompson was diagnosed with schizophrenia.
“The medical staff and the officers saw him deteriorating in the last few weeks before he died. They did nothing to help him. Nothing. They found him dead in his cell, lying there, infested with bedbugs and lice, and that’s what killed him,” said Harper.
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Documents state Thompson was found unresponsive in his cell around 4:40 a.m. that day, and a detention officer reportedly refused to perform CPR because she “freaked out.” An ambulance arrived at the jail, and paramedics attempted to resuscitate him but failed. Thompson had no signs of trauma, but his body was covered in bedbugs.
These are the conditions of the Fulton County Jail, where Lashawn Thompson was found dead, covered in lice and feces. At the time of his death, over 90% of his unit was severly malnourished. EVERY person had lice or scabies.
He was 35 years old. pic.twitter.com/OnQYGgo4ZL
— Clara T Green (@ClaraTGreen) April 13, 2023
Anyone who can hear about this and not burst into tears (or feel like doing so) is incapable of empathy. This is so horrible
— Elizabeth (@ComeGetYourCat) April 13, 2023
This is incredibly hard to view, but we can’t hide from it the way we’ve hidden incarcerated people from our view. https://t.co/4NPWrOzkqs
— sarah (@SarahRohleder) April 14, 2023
I’ve learned a lot from the individuals I’ve worked with, but one consistent message has been— don’t ever end up in Fulton Co. jail. This is absolutely unacceptable. https://t.co/wLcVVwYoLT
— Olivia R., Psy.D. (@ooliviagr) April 14, 2023
We cannot throw away incarcerated people. We cannot leave them to die in filth. They are our fellow citizens. They are our fellow human beings. They are our kinfolk. And they will return to society shaped by how we treat them. https://t.co/ahpJ0KzLyf
— Bishop of Decolonization and Deconstruction (@WilGafney) April 14, 2023
In a report by WSB-TV, the sheriff’s office said an investigation is ongoing.
“The ongoing investigation is examining details regarding the medical care provided and ultimately will determine whether any criminal charges are warranted in this case. The health, well-being, and security of inmates in our care is our top priority. It’s no secret that the dilapidated and rapidly eroding conditions of the current facility make it incredibly difficult to meet the goal of providing a clean, well-maintained, and healthy environment for all inmates and staff.”