Darrell Smith
Darrell Smith, 50, was held in the Special Treatment Unit at the Adult Diagnostic and Treatment Center in Avenel, Woodbridge, New Jersey, and his online obituary says he had recently been promoted to chef. On Aug. 23, 2019, a corrections officer struck him after an earlier dispute, and the officer later pleaded guilty to third-degree aggravated assault and admitted his punches were meant to cause significant injury. New Jersey Department of Corrections case reporting says Smith died of a fatal stroke on Aug. 28, 2019, while his sister's lawsuit says several officers assaulted him in the days before his death. A grand jury declined to bring homicide charges.
Cause of death, as reported: Killed by staff (disputed). The New Jersey Department of Corrections case reporting cites a fatal stroke, while Smith's sister's lawsuit says several officers assaulted him in the days before he died, and an officer pleaded guilty to assaulting him on Aug. 23, 2019.
Reported by: New Jersey Department of Corrections (the agency that held him); Darrell Smith's sister, in her lawsuit (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His sister sued over his death, alleging several corrections officers assaulted him in the days before he died, and a corrections officer pleaded guilty to third-degree aggravated assault in the case.