Alan R. Thibodeau
Alan R. Thibodeau, 51, was from Virginia, and his family called him a loving father, son and brother who had schizophrenia and diabetes. He was held at the Bamberg County Detention Center in South Carolina for about five months, and his family's lawsuit says he was not given his mental health or diabetes medication, lost most of his body weight, and was repeatedly subjected to force, including Taser use. He was found unresponsive in his cell on July 10, 2022, and died at Lexington Medical Center on July 23, 2022, with the autopsy listing multiple organ failure and severe malnutrition. The family's lawsuit against the county and its health care contractor alleges that his death would have been prevented with proper care. South Carolina Law Enforcement Division reportedly found no criminal conduct.
Cause of death, as reported: Died from neglect by staff (disputed). The autopsy listed multiple organ failure and severe malnutrition, while his family's lawsuit says jail staff withheld his medication and food and ignored his declining health, which the county denies.
Reported by: autopsy report; his family's lawsuit (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His family sued Bamberg County, a medical provider and a nurse in federal court in 2023 (Thibodeau v. Bamberg County); the case closed in 2025 with no reported payment. Court records: Thibodeau v. Bamberg County (D.S.C., 2023); Thibodeau v. Bamberg County (D.S.C., 2023).
Sources (5)
- Bamberg County sued after mental health patient wastes away in jail, dies
- Man tased and starved in SC jail before death was supposed to be in hospital, suit says
- ‘Didn't look like my brother': Virginia family sues over alleged fatal mistreatment of brother in South Carolina jail
- Virginia man dies after waiting months in SC jail for psychiatric care. His family asks why.
- Prosecutors won’t bring criminal charges in Bamberg County jail death