"My Son Was Eaten by Bedbugs"… Mystery of Death in US Prison

Bereaved Families: "Died in Unsanitary Conditions"

A man in his 30s died in a U.S. prison, and his family claims that he died after being bitten by bedbugs in an unsanitary cell, urging a thorough investigation. The bereaved family also demanded the closure of the prison.

According to foreign media including The Washington Post on the 14th (local time), Lashon Thompson (35), who was incarcerated at the Fulton County Jail in Atlanta on September 13 last year, was found dead. Thompson had been imprisoned three months earlier on a misdemeanor charge of simple assault.

The cell in Fulton County Jail, Atlanta, USA, where Rashawn Thompson was held.
[Photo by Thompson's attorney/WP]

Reports indicate that Thompson's autopsy results were "undetermined," but he was found to have "very severe bites" from small insects on his face and limbs.

Prison records show that staff had to wear protective suits when entering Thompson's cell due to the severe hygiene conditions. The cell was covered with filth and bedbugs, and Thompson was unresponsive. Another report described the insects filling the cell as "bedbugs."

The family's lawyer claimed on the 12th that Thompson was "eaten alive" by bedbugs and small insects.

At a press conference the following day, photos of the cell where Thompson was held were released. They called for a thorough investigation, the closure of the prison, and replacement of the facilities.

The family's lawyer described, "Thompson, who was healthy before incarceration, was eaten alive by bedbugs," and said, "The prison put Thompson in jail and neglected his death." They demanded an investigation into Thompson's death and the closure and replacement of the Fulton County Jail facilities.

LaShawn Thompson Photo by Thompson's Attorney/WP

The prison authorities stated, "We are investigating Thompson's death and have approved funding to address epidemic and disease issues within the prison." They also acknowledged the prison's condition, saying, "The facility is severely aged, making it insufficient to provide a clean and healthy environment for inmates and staff."

The prison approved an additional expenditure of $500,000 (approximately 657 million KRW) to resolve pest problems such as bedbugs and lice within the detention facility, and decided to closely monitor hygiene conditions during patrols.