Daniel Preston Walker
Daniel Preston Walker, 20, died on June 24, 2006, in the dorm at Lee Correctional Institution in Bishopville, South Carolina. His mother, Alice A. Walker, said he had gone to prison to serve his sentence, not to die, and that extortion calls to his parents began soon after he arrived. Her wrongful death lawsuit, filed through attorney T.O. Sanders, says he was beaten and smothered by other people held there in an extortion scheme that guards tacitly approved, and that officials failed to protect him despite his transfer request and threats. The Department of Corrections had not responded to the suit when the article was published, and the State Law Enforcement Division suspended its investigation, though the case remains open.
Cause of death, as reported: Killed by another person in custody (neglect alleged). His mother, Alice A. Walker, says in a wrongful death lawsuit that other inmates beat and smothered him in an extortion scheme that guards tacitly approved, and that prison officials ignored his transfer request and threats.
Reported by: Alice A. Walker, through a wrongful death lawsuit filed by attorney T.O. Sanders (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His mother, Alice A. Walker, sued the South Carolina Department of Corrections and prison officials over his death, alleging they failed to protect him from an extortion scheme despite his transfer request and threats, and no payment was reported.