Curtis Garland
Curtis Garland, 37, lived with severe asthma and needed regular inhaler and nebulizer treatment. He died on June 24, 2014, while held at the George Beto Unit, a Texas state prison in Anderson County, according to a custodial death report filed by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. The Pinchback family's lawsuit, brought with attorney Emmanuel Obi, says he repeatedly asked guards for help over several hours. Fellow men held there say staff stopped them from taking him to the infirmary, and that Marchello Faulkner stayed with him as he died. The lawsuit alleges officials ignored his doctors and his pleas for help, and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice declined to comment because of the pending lawsuit.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of illness (disputed; neglect alleged). Fellow prisoners say Garland repeatedly asked guards for help over several hours and staff stopped them from taking him to the infirmary, while the family's lawsuit alleges officials ignored doctors and his pleas for help during an asthma attack.
Reported by: Pinchback family lawsuit and attorney Emmanuel Obi (family or their lawyers); Texas Department of Criminal Justice (the agency that held him); fellow prisoners.
Lawsuit: His family sued in federal court over his death at the George Beto Unit, and the case's outcome is not reported in these sources.