Was a man eaten by bugs and bed bugs in his cell? The question arose in Atlanta, Georgia (USA) after a prisoner’s family filed a complaint.
Lashawn Thompson, 35, was found dead September 19 in his cell at the Fulton County Jail, where he has been held since June. According to Michael Harper, his family’s attorney, he was “found in an unsanitary prison cell after being eaten alive by insects and bed bugs.” He also took public photos of the victim’s insect-infested body at torso and face level.
An official version disputed by the family
The official Fulton County investigative report says the 30-year-old’s cause of death is “undetermined,” while the coroner’s report says “severe bed bug infestation” in the cell but mentions no evidence of trauma to the victim’s body.
According to his family and lawyer, Lashawn Thompson’s health had deteriorated in the weeks leading up to his death: “Records show that prison officials and medical staff noticed a deterioration in Mr. Thompson’s condition, worsened but took no action. »
The Fulton County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement that the law prohibits sharing information about the detainee’s health “or decisions he or she makes regarding his or her right to accept or refuse medical care,” CNN notes .
The possibility of anemia or anaphylactic shock
“I’ve been working for 20 years and I’ve never seen anything like this,” Michael Potter, a bed bug entomologist at the University of Kentucky, said in an interview with the BBC. “Bugs feed on blood: the more numerous they are, the more blood they consume,” summarized Michael Potter.
As the UK media reminds us, bed bug bites are not usually fatal, but in some cases prolonged exposure to a massive bed bug infestation can result in severe anemia. This can become fatal without proper care. Allergic reactions and anaphylactic shock may also occur in exposed individuals.
Local authorities have announced a full investigation into the circumstances of Lashawn Thompson’s death. At the same time, $500,000 was released “to combat infestations of bed bugs, lice and other vermin at the Fulton County Jail,” said Sheriff’s Office Patrick Labat. He acknowledged that the prison’s condition was “decay,” notes CNN, and is calling for a new prison to be built as soon as possible.