Damien Coestly
Damien Coestly was held at Winn Correctional Center, a private Louisiana prison run by the Corrections Corporation of America. His mother, Wendy Porter, and family say he struggled with his mental health and had been placed on suicide watch many times. In June 2015 he hanged himself in a segregation cell, and according to the family he was then taken to hospital and kept on life support for 19 days. The family believes the death was preventable, while CCA says he was granted compassionate release while hospitalized.
Cause of death, as reported: Died by suicide (disputed; neglect alleged). His mother Wendy Porter and family say he hanged himself with a sheet tied to the cell bars after repeated suicide watch placements, and they believe the death was preventable; CCA's own investigator described the suicide attempt.
Reported by: his mother Wendy Porter and family (family or their lawyers); Corrections Corporation of America's investigator (the agency that held him).