Christopher Lapp
Christopher Lapp, 62, was a highly educated man with a Ph.D. from MIT, and the son of Ralph Lapp, a scientist who worked on the Manhattan Project. He had a long history of bipolar disorder and mental health problems. He died by suicide in his cell at the Alexandria Adult Detention Center in May 2021, while awaiting sentencing. A federal judge said a federal prison in Butner, North Carolina refused to admit him as ordered, and that the jail stopped his medication. His family says the errors by officials and doctors led to his death, and they are suing the US government.
Cause of death, as reported: Died by suicide (neglect alleged). His family's federal lawsuit says he hanged himself in his cell, and that jail staff stopped his medication and a federal medical prison refused to admit him despite a judge's order.
Reported by: family's federal lawsuit (family or their lawyers); news report.
Lawsuit: His family sued the United States government in federal court, alleging that his medication was stopped and a federal medical prison refused to admit him despite a judge's order; no settlement or award amount has been reported.