Charles James Givens
Charles James Givens, known to his family as Chuck, had permanent brain damage from a childhood fall and needed help and supervision with daily tasks; his sister Kymberly Hobbs, his legal guardian, cared for him for more than 12 years. He died in February 2022, reportedly on February 5, while held at the Marion Correctional Treatment Center in Marion, Virginia. The medical examiner's report found blunt force trauma to the torso and listed the manner of death as undetermined, while the Virginia Department of Corrections called it a natural death. A federal lawsuit filed by his family alleges that correctional officers beat him in a shower room and that the death was covered up; the officers have denied the allegations, and a grand jury declined to indict while the state police investigation remains open.
Cause of death, as reported: Killed by staff (disputed). The Virginia Department of Corrections called it a natural death and the state medical examiner found blunt force trauma of the torso, while a federal lawsuit by his family and attorney Paul Stanley alleges correctional officers beat him in the shower and covered it up.
Reported by: Virginia Department of Corrections (the agency that held him); State Medical Examiner (medical examiner or coroner); Charles Givens's family and attorney Paul Stanley, in a federal lawsuit (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His family filed a federal civil lawsuit alleging correctional officers beat him in a shower room and covered up his death, and no settlement or award amount is reported.