Christopher Louis Latham Jr.
Christopher Latham, 40, died in October 2023 at Ventress Correctional Facility, a state prison in Alabama, where he was held. His family and the Alabama Department of Corrections say he had been struck in the head at another prison earlier in 2023. His death certificate lists the manner as accidental and the cause as respiratory failure with intracranial trauma underneath, though it also notes a prison fight, and Appleseed has questioned the certifying physician about that classification. Alabama Political Reporter, citing reports, says he was beaten at Ventress over a small debt and was kept on life support before his family chose to remove him from the ventilator, and his uncle, Kevin Hyatt, said he 'didn't deserve to die in prison.' Prison officials reportedly said no protective custody was available at Ventress because of overcrowding.
Cause of death, as reported: Killed by another person in custody (disputed; neglect alleged). The death certificate lists the manner as accidental despite noting a prison fight, while Alabama Political Reporter, citing reports, says another prisoner beat him to death over a small debt, and prison officials reportedly said no protective custody was available at Ventress because of overcrowding.
Reported by: death certificate; Alabama Political Reporter, citing reports (reporters).