Ben Van Zandt
Ben Van Zandt was a violin player and former Boy Scout who was an honor student through high school, according to his mother, Alicia Barraza. He was 21 when he died in October 2014 at Fishkill Correctional Facility in New York, where he was held in an adult prison. His family says he had schizophrenia and depression, was denied psychiatric medication, and feared guards after seeing abuse of other patients. The Daily Beast reported, citing family accounts and prison records, that he died by suicide by hanging, and his family says prison officials gave them little information and did not tell them about a suicide note for months. His parents filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the New York State Office of Mental Health and the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision alleging inadequate medical care, and both agencies declined to comment on the lawsuit.
Cause of death, as reported: Died by suicide (disputed; neglect alleged). The Daily Beast, citing his family and prison records, reports he died by hanging with shoelaces and a sheet; his mother Alicia Barraza says he was denied psychiatric medication and placed in solitary confinement despite known mental illness, and his parents' wrongful death lawsuit against the state mental health and corrections agencies alleges inadequate medical care.
Reported by: The Daily Beast (reporters); Alicia Barraza, his mother (family or their lawyers); his parents' wrongful death lawsuit (family or their lawyers); #HALTsolitary report (advocates).
Lawsuit: His parents sued the New York State Office of Mental Health and the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision in a wrongful death suit alleging inadequate medical care, and both agencies declined to comment on the lawsuit.