Crime
Man allegedly eaten alive by insects in Atlanta jail: Family demands answers
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Fulton County Jail in Atlanta is facing controversy after the death of LaShawn Thompson, who was allegedly being eaten alive by insects and bed bugs while in custody, reports Atlanta News First (ANF).
Thompson was arrested for misdemeanor simple battery and placed in the psychiatric wing of the jail due to mental health issues, according to officials. According to his family’s attorney, Michael D. Harper, Thompson remained in custody for three months until his death.
The family claims that they obtained records indicating that Thompson’s condition had been deteriorating, but the jail staff did not provide any assistance. When Thompson’s body was discovered, a detention officer reportedly refused to perform CPR due to her own panic.
ANF reporter Zac Summers took to twitter and called it “The most inhumane inmate death [he] had ever seen.”
“This is the most inhumane inmate death I’ve seen.”
The family of Lashawn Thompson, an inmate who died inside a Fulton Co. Jail cell last year, is calling for sweeping changes. The 35-year-old’s family say he was “eaten alive by insects and bed bugs.” Story at 6pm. @ATLNewsFirst pic.twitter.com/vTfeVH7Cd5
— Zac Summers (@ZacOnTV) April 12, 2023
The Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office report revealed that there were no signs of physical trauma on Thompson’s body, but a severe bed bug infestation was observed. The official cause of death is listed as “undetermined”.
The death of Thompson has raised questions about the conditions of the Fulton County Jail and the treatment of inmates with mental health issues. The incident has sparked widespread outrage and demands for an investigation into the jail’s policies and procedures.
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