Christopher Gilchrist
Christopher Gilchrist, 28, died by hanging in February 2018 while held on one-on-one suicide watch in the psychiatric observation unit at Graterford prison in Pennsylvania. A fellow prisoner says a corrections officer was present the day before his death and removed a rope from Gilchrist's neck several times without intervening further. A state police report, as cited by his family's lawyer Nancy Winkler, says officers saw a sheet hanging from a vent at least an hour before he died and did not remove it. A family lawsuit says staff failed to act on his suicidal statements, that a provider recommended he return to general population on the day of his death, and that officers did not remove a makeshift noose from his cell.
Cause of death, as reported: Died by suicide (disputed; neglect alleged). A state police report, as cited by family lawyer Nancy Winkler, says officers saw a sheet hanging from a vent at least an hour before his death and did not remove it, and his family's lawsuit says staff failed to act on his suicidal statements and did not remove a makeshift noose from his cell.
Reported by: state police report, as cited by family lawyer Nancy Winkler (outside investigators); family's lawsuit (family or their lawyers); a fellow inmate.
Lawsuit: His family sued in Montgomery County Court over his death at Graterford, alleging staff failed to act on his suicidal statements and left a makeshift noose in his cell; no settlement or award amount is reported.