Alton Rodgers
Alton Rodgers, who was 31, died in January 2016 while held at the William P. Clements Unit, a Texas state prison near Amarillo. His mother, Gwendolyn Patrick, said she tried to get him medical care in the months before his death, and the family's lawsuit says he lost about 50 pounds, was severely malnourished, and was denied treatment for tuberculosis. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice said he died of head injuries from an altercation with his cellmate, and a preliminary autopsy ruled his death a homicide, with the cellmate investigated. Forensic pathologist Judy Melinek has said a pulmonary embolism was an equally possible cause, and the lawsuit alleges guards falsified records of security checks, claims the prison disputes.
Cause of death, as reported: Killed by another person in custody (disputed; neglect alleged). The autopsy and TDCJ attribute his death to head trauma from a cellmate's blow, while his mother and attorney Jesse Quackenbush dispute this, alleging starvation, denied tuberculosis treatment and guard brutality, and a lawsuit says guards falsified records of skipped security checks.
Reported by: Texas Department of Criminal Justice (the agency that held him); preliminary autopsy report; TDCJ Office of the Inspector General (outside investigators); his mother, Gwendolyn Patrick, and attorney Jesse Quackenbush (family or their lawyers); forensic pathologist Judy Melinek.
Lawsuit: His family, through attorney Jesse Quackenbush, filed a wrongful death lawsuit alleging guard brutality and untreated tuberculosis, and the case is pending with no reported settlement or award.
Sources (6)
- Custodial death report PA16025P
- After prison deaths, wardens at Clements state prison retire - Amarillo Globe-News
- Family of Clements inmate who died in custody to sue TDCJ - Amarillo Globe-News
- Clements inmate death leads to lawsuit against TDCJ
- Malnourished Prisoner’s Death Reveals Horrific Conditions in a Texas Prison
- No Exit: Death and Despair in Texas’s “Double-Cell” Solitary Units