A Georgia man who was found dead in an Atlanta jail cell last year was “neglected to death” by authorities, according to an independent autopsy released Monday.
Lashawn Thompson, 35, was found dead Sept. 13, 2022 in a Fulton County Jail cell that was full of insects and feces.
“He was dehydrated, malnourished, and his body was infested inside and out with insects — it is truly one of the most horrific cases we have seen,” said prominent civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who was hired by Thompson’s family. “This man endured a torturous death.”
An official autopsy ruled Thompson’s cause of death was “undetermined” and his manner of death was also “undetermined.”
Thompson’s family sought a second autopsy, performed by former Washington, D.C., Chief Medical Examiner Roger A. Mitchell Jr., who now works at Howard University. According to Mitchell, Thompson’s cause of death was “complications from severe neglect” and the manner of death was homicide.
Mitchell argued that because Thompson suffered from schizophrenia and was denied care for his mental illness, his death was “best classified as a homicide.”
“Because care was withheld from Mr. Lashawn Thompson, his condition deteriorated,” Mitchell wrote. “When he was found to be suffering from his illness, acute and urgent care was not provided to him.”
Thompson weighed 180 pounds when he was booked at Fulton County Jail on June 12, 2022. When he died 90 days later, he weighed only 148 pounds, meaning he lost 18% of his body weight in three months behind bars.
Additionally, Thompson had been prescribed two medications to treat his schizophrenia. They were supposed to be administered twice per day. However, jail records last recorded Thompson receiving the medicine on Aug. 11, 32 days before he died. Neither of the medications were found in his system during the autopsies.
“It is unfathomable that no one working in this facility lifted a finger to help Lashawn as he slowly died for three months on their watch,” Crump said. “Their inaction, cruelty and inhumanity killed him. We will do everything in our power to hold those responsible for Lashawn’s death accountable.”
The Fulton County Sheriff’s Office and the Atlanta Police Department are both investigating Thompson’s death.