Curtis Davis
Curtis Davis, 44, was a father who cared deeply about his children, according to his lawyer, and he had worked as an UberEats driver and in construction. He died on July 23, 2023, in his cell at the George R. Vierno Center on Rikers Island, where he was found unresponsive early that Sunday morning and pronounced dead shortly after. The city Medical Examiner ruled his death a suicide by hanging. His family's wrongful death lawsuit says jail staff missed his medical and psychiatric appointments despite his warnings that he was suicidal, and that a log of required floor checks was fraudulent on the day he died. A Board of Correction report says a floor officer left his post for more than two hours, a log book was falsified, and required checks were missed, and an assistant deputy warden and two officers were suspended.
Cause of death, as reported: Died by suicide (neglect alleged). The medical examiner ruled it a suicide by hanging, and his daughter's wrongful death lawsuit says guards missed required floor checks, a log was falsified, and he was not taken to psychiatric appointments despite his warnings that he was suicidal.
Reported by: Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (medical examiner or coroner); his daughter's wrongful death lawsuit against the city (family or their lawyers); New York State Office of the Attorney General, Office of Special Investigation (outside investigators).
Custody: Awaiting trial.
Lawsuit: His daughter, Alvina Davis, filed a wrongful death claim against the city, the Department of Correction and unidentified guards, and no settlement or award amount has been reported.
Sources (14)
- New York Attorney General, Office of Special Investigation data tables
- NYC Board of Correction: Download the Second Report and Recommendations on 2023 Deaths in NYC Department of Correction Custody
- Rikers inmate dies, marking seventh death in custody this year: officials
- Detainee Curtis Davis found dead on Rikers Island; seventh death this year, fourth this month
- New York’s Rikers Island sees seventh death this year after man dies in his cell
- Curtis Davis is 7th detainee to die at Rikers Island this year
- Death of 7th Rikers Island detainee Curtis Davis renews calls for federal takeover
- Rikers detainee becomes seventh person to die in DOC custody this year
- Report: Rikers Island correction officer abandoned post for more than two hours before inmate died
- Medical Examiner Shows Key Information Missing From Rikers Report on 7th Death This Year
- Tracking the Deaths in the Rikers Island Jail Complex
- Tracking Deaths in NYC Jails Since 2022
- Family of man who committed suicide on Rikers sues city
- A Rikers Island detainee’s 2023 death by suicide set to get new scrutiny