Georgia Man’s Death in Bed Bug-Infested Jail Cell Ruled Homicide Due to ‘Severe Neglect’
GEORGIA — The death of LaShawn Thompson, a 35-year-old man found in a bed bug-infested jail cell in Atlanta, has been ruled a homicide due to severe neglect, according to an independent autopsy funded by activist and former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick.
Thompson, who was arrested for simple battery against police in June 2022, was discovered dead in the Fulton County Jail on September 13, 2022. Viral images showed his body covered in insects and his cell in appalling condition, sparking widespread outrage.
At a press conference outside the Georgia State Capitol, the family’s attorneys Ben Crump and Michael Harper announced the autopsy findings, which listed the cause of death as “complications due to severe neglect,” including dehydration, malnutrition, and untreated schizophrenia, according to ABC News.
Autopsy Points to Extreme Conditions and Mental Health Neglect
The independent report detailed that Thompson suffered from untreated decompensated schizophrenia, and was left in such poor condition that his body was infested with lice and bed bugs. The Fulton County Medical Examiner had previously listed the cause of death as “undetermined,” which prompted the family to pursue a second opinion.
“It’s enough that the bed bugs and lice sat there and ate my brother to death, but it’s the neglect that hurts me the most,” said Brad McCray, Thompson’s brother.
The autopsy was paid for by Kaepernick’s Know Your Rights Camp, which advocates for racial and social justice.
Jail Staff Resignations and Internal Changes
In response to the outcry, Fulton County Sheriff Patrick “Pat” Labat confirmed that several high-ranking jail officials — including the chief jailer and assistant chief jailers — have resigned as part of sweeping reforms at the jail.
Labat acknowledged the severity of the failures that led to Thompson’s death and stated that disciplinary action or prosecution could follow pending the results of an official investigation by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI).
“Even before the [independent] report was released, it was painfully clear there were a number of failures that led to Mr. Thompson’s tragic death,” said Labat.
Federal Inquiry Demanded
Senator Jon Ossoff (D-Georgia), chair of the U.S. Senate Human Rights Subcommittee, called for a Department of Justice investigation into the conditions of incarceration that contributed to Thompson’s death.
“This is a human rights crisis. The inhumane conditions at this jail must be fully investigated,” Ossoff said in a public statement on April 20.
While the DOJ has yet to respond publicly, pressure is mounting as advocates highlight the case as a symbol of systemic failures in mental health treatment and inmate care in U.S. jails.
Family Seeking Justice
The Thompson family, supported by Crump and Harper, is pursuing legal options and continues to push for accountability. They are also calling for broader reforms in correctional facilities, especially regarding the treatment of inmates with mental illness.
“We want justice, not just for LaShawn, but for every person who’s ever been neglected in jail because they were poor or sick,” attorney Harper said.
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