Dalton Wade Slaton
Dalton Wade Slaton, 18, was from Newberry. He was held at Kirkland Correctional Institution in Columbia, South Carolina, from November 2013. His family's attorneys say he had a history of mental illness and self-harm and was moved back to general population over his objections. He was found hanged in his cell in January 2014, and state corrections records list the death as a suicide. The South Carolina Department of Corrections settled a medical malpractice suit over his death without admitting liability.
Cause of death, as reported: Died by suicide (disputed; neglect alleged). The South Carolina Department of Corrections lists the death as a suicide, while his family's attorneys say he had a history of mental illness and self-harm and was moved back to general population over his objections, and the state settled a medical malpractice suit without admitting liability.
Reported by: South Carolina Department of Corrections (the agency that held him); his family's attorneys (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: The South Carolina Department of Corrections settled a medical malpractice suit over his death without admitting liability, and no settlement amount was reported.