Billy Thornton
Billy Thornton, a man held at Holman prison in Alabama, attempted to hang himself with a shoestring in segregation on February 26, 2018, and died of a head injury on March 2, 2018. According to a ruling by U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson, Thornton had told staff in late 2017 that he wanted to kill himself, yet he was placed in mental health observation rather than on suicide watch. The ruling attributes his death to a head injury after the attempt, and the account was reported by AL.com in May 2019.
Cause of death, as reported: Died by suicide (neglect alleged). U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson wrote that Thornton attempted to hang himself with a shoestring in segregation and died of a head injury, and that he had told staff in late 2017 he wanted to kill himself but was placed in mental health observation rather than on suicide watch.
Reported by: U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson (court).
Lawsuit: U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson issued a ruling in a federal lawsuit over Billy Thornton's death, and no settlement or award amount is reported.