Ayesha Johnson
Ayesha Johnson, 35, was a mother of two daughters, and her father described her as a devoted mother who loved to cook and buy gifts for her relatives. On July 28, 2021, she was held at the Suffolk County House of Correction at South Bay in Boston, where staff found her unresponsive in a holding cell and she was pronounced dead. Her family's wrongful death lawsuit says she fell from a cell bench and lay on the floor for about 68 minutes, that officers ignored her, and that chest compressions began five minutes after she was found unresponsive. Her cousin said she was neglected and needed help, while Sheriff Steven Tompkins said he is investigating and does not suspect foul play, and the sheriff's department has not commented on the lawsuit. Authorities said they were awaiting toxicology results, and the district attorney's office closed its investigation without criminal charges.
Cause of death, as reported: Cause not yet determined (disputed; neglect alleged). The sheriff's office says it is investigating and does not suspect foul play, while her family and supporters dispute the official account and demand an independent investigation; her father's wrongful death lawsuit says she fell from a cell bench and lay on the floor for about 68 minutes, and that officers ignored her and chest compressions started five minutes after she was found unresponsive.
Reported by: Suffolk County Sheriff's Department (the agency that held her); Suffolk County Sheriff Steven Tompkins (the agency that held her); Reginald White's wrongful death lawsuit in Suffolk Superior Court (family or their lawyers); Cousin Elijaih Perry (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: Her father, Reginald White, filed a wrongful death lawsuit in Suffolk Superior Court over Ayesha Johnson's death at the South Bay House of Correction.