Dante Taylor
Dante Taylor, 22, died in October 2017 at Wende Correctional Facility, a prison in Alden, New York, near Buffalo. The Corrections Department called his death a suicide, and the state's Commission of Correction says its investigation is ongoing. His mother, Darlene McDay, a nurse, and his grandmother sued prison staff, saying officers beat him, hogtied him and threw him down stairs less than 12 hours before he died, and that staff ignored clear warning signs he was a suicide risk. Prison records describe his injuries as self-inflicted, and the department has declined to comment on the lawsuit.
Cause of death, as reported: Died by suicide (disputed; neglect alleged). The Corrections Department ruled it a suicide, but his mother Darlene McDay's lawsuit says two sergeants and two officers beat him, hogtied him and threw him down stairs, and that staff ignored clear signs he was a suicide risk.
Reported by: New York State Department of Corrections (the agency that held him); Darlene McDay, his mother, in a lawsuit (family or their lawyers); his grandmother, in a federal civil rights lawsuit with his mother (family or their lawyers); independent investigation.
Lawsuit: His mother, Darlene McDay, and grandmother sued prison officials in federal court over his death, alleging beating and failure to prevent suicide, and the state declined to comment on the litigation; no settlement or award amount has been reported.
Sources (5)
- Man Who Murdered Young Long Island Mother Found Dead In Prison
- N.Y. prison corrections officers brutally beat inmate hours before he committed suicide: suit
- Lawsuit Filed Over Suicide Death of New York Prisoner
- Family of man who committed suicide inside Wende Correctional Facility is suing
- NY state prison chief under fire from families of people who died behind bars from COVID and violence