Lashawn Thompson’s death in Georgia prison was negligent homicide: autopsy

The death in prison was a homicide due to “severe neglect,” according to an independent autopsy. Lashawn Thompson was found dead in an insect-infested cell at the Fulton County Jail last September. The county coroner called Thompson’s cause of death “undetermined.” An independent autopsy made possible by NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s Autopsy Initiative now says Thompson’s death was caused by “complications from severe neglect.”

Since Thompson was “totally dependent on his caregivers to provide both the day-to-day care and the acute life-saving care necessary to save him from untreated decompensated schizophrenia,” the fatal neglect that led to his death may well be Considered murder, autopsy report states. “He was not receiving the necessary medical care, adequate food, water or shelter to survive.”

Thompson was held in the Fulton County Jail in June 2022 on a battery charge. The 35-year-old showed no signs of impairment at the time, according to the independent autopsy, which is based on a review of prison medical records and incident reports, as well as the county coroner’s report.

When Thompson died, he was malnourished, dehydrated, and had suffered a fatal cardiac arrhythmia. The independent autopsy performed by Roger A. Mitchell, a forensic pathologist, suggests that several issues contributed to these fatal problems.

For example, Thompson showed signs of “severe body insect infestation,” Mitchell’s report said. There was evidence of “countless insects with head hair, face, facial hair, nose, mouth, chest, pubic area, arms and legs” and “multiple abrasions on arms and legs”.

During his incarceration, Thompson lost his weight from 180 to 148 pounds.

In addition, “a toxicology report appeared to indicate that Thompson was not receiving medication for his diagnosed schizophrenia at the time of his death,” NBC News notes:

During his recording… [Thompson was] According to the report, he was prescribed 5mg of Haldol, an antipsychotic used to treat schizophrenia, and 50mg of Benadryl.

Thompson’s medical report says he was examined five days later and appeared to be fine. A doctor re-examined him on July 14, 2022, where he was “selectively mute but not stressed” and on his medication.

But then, according to Mitchell’s report, there is a “significant gap” between a July 27 check-in and September 8, 2022.

“This represents 43 days during which minimal documentation was found in the records to support the care provided,” the report said. “The medication administration log indicated that no medication was administered during the period August 11, 2022 – September 13, 2022.”

Thompson’s case is “one of the most regrettable deaths in custody” in history, attorney Ben Crump, representing Thompson’s family, told reporters Monday.

The independent autopsy is broadly consistent with what the county coroner found. That report stated that Thompson’s prison cell was filthy and infested with insects, and that schizoaffective disorder contributed to his death. “Per the Fulton County Jail Incident Report, on Monday, September 13, 2022, Mr. Lashawn Thompson was found unresponsive on the floor and slumped over the toilet in his jail cell,” notes Mitchell. “He was covered in feces and body lice.”

Disturbing photos shared by the Thompson family attorney show the filthy cell in which Thompson was found, as well as a picture of his body at the time of his death.

FREE THOUGHTS

Louisiana HB466 would ban teachers from speaking about sexual orientation or gender identity. The Louisiana law is similar to a measure in Florida that critics call the “don’t say gay” law. Texas is also considering a similar proposal.

But Louisiana’s bill goes beyond Florida law, notes Tim Miller, author of The Bulwark:

I would like to emphasize a few provisions.

  1. “No teacher, school official or other presenter at a school shall do any of the following: (c) Discuss his or her own sexual orientation or gender identity

This is the “don’t ask, don’t tell” part of the legislation. The state of Louisiana mandates that gay teachers be kept top secret. Something straight out of the 1970s script by Anita Bryant.

I think it’s remarkable that as of the writing of this bill, a teacher describing what it’s like to be a woman in the workplace would trigger an infraction, as would a teacher talking about her heterosexual spouse, but like us know, these aren’t the teachers being targeted (although perhaps a creative lawsuit could clear that up).

In the meantime, the bill will only be used to silence and dehumanize gay and transgender teachers who can no longer keep a picture of their family on their desk or mention their life experiences as part of a normal classroom discussion

  1. “No teacher, school official, or other presenter in a school shall: (a) raise the issues of sexual orientation or gender identity in any classroom discussion or class

This actually goes back to the original wording of the Florida bill, which was an amendment intended to remove the issue of “discussion” and instead criminalize only “teaching.”

A ban on “discussing” sexual orientation in classroom discussion means not only that teachers cannot bring it up, but also that they cannot answer or address questions raised by students. Up to the 12th grade (!!)

The full text of the law can be found here.

FREE MARKETS

TikTok is suing over Montana’s ban. The company filed a lawsuit Monday challenging a statewide ban put into effect last week by Republican Greg Gianforte, Gov. of Montana. Montana’s ‘extraordinary and unprecedented action’. [are] “Based on nothing more than baseless speculation,” the TikTok complaint says, claiming that the ban violates the First Amendment.

TikTok “is challenging Montana’s unconstitutional TikTok ban to protect our business and the hundreds of thousands of TikTok users in Montana,” spokeswoman Brooke Oberwetter said.

This is the second lawsuit filed under Montana’s new law. Last week, law firm Davis Wright Tremaine filed suit on behalf of five TikTok content creators.

QUICK CONCLUSIONS

• New research “adds to growing concern that recycling is not as effective a solution to the plastic pollution problem as many may think,” notes the Washington Post Allyson Chiu. “A recent peer-reviewed study focused on a UK recycling facility suggests that between 6 and 13 per cent of the plastic processed could end up in the water or air as microplastics.” (Reason has reported on this for years.)

• Josh Hawley continues to be the worst: “As the deadline for a deal to raise the debt limit nears, Senator Josh Hawley (R–Mo.) says any deal should include a massive tax hike for Americans,” reports Reason Böhm’s Eric .

• Are national conservatives doing something right? Reason editors Matt Welch, Katherine Mangu-Ward, Nick Gillespie and Peter Suderman discuss.

• The Department of Education investigated a Georgia school district for the district’s removal of library books on race, gender and sexuality, suggesting that the removal created a “hostile environment.”

• DC’s Union Station renovation represents “everything that’s wrong with America’s infrastructure,” writes travel blogger Gary Leff.

• In some places, living with friends is still technically illegal.

• More women are joining a lawsuit challenging the Texas ban on abortion unless the mother’s life is in danger. More than a dozen Texas women have now joined the lawsuit, according to the Associated Press.

• “On Monday, European regulators fined Meta $1.3 billion for failing to adequately protect user data in transit from Europe to the United States,” reports the Washington Post.

• The journal Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience retracted 13 articles that “contained material that appeared fraudulent.”