Darrell Smith
Darrell Smith, 50, was held at the Special Treatment Unit of the Adult Diagnostic and Treatment Center in Avenel, Woodbridge, New Jersey. His sister's federal lawsuit says that corrections officers beat him in August 2019 and denied him medical care for four days before he was taken to a hospital, where he was brain dead. Officials have said he died of a fatal stroke on Aug. 28, 2019, and a corrections officer pleaded guilty to aggravated assault in connection with the beating. A grand jury declined to bring homicide charges, and the state medical examiner classed his manner of death as undetermined. Online obituaries say he had recently been promoted to chef.
Cause of death, as reported: Killed by staff (disputed; neglect alleged). The state's account is that he died of a fatal stroke after an August 2019 altercation with a corrections officer, and the officer pleaded guilty to aggravated assault; his sister's federal lawsuit says officers repeatedly beat him and denied him medical care for four days, and the state medical examiner classed the manner of death as undetermined.
Reported by: New Jersey Department of Corrections (the agency that held him); New Jersey Attorney General's office (outside investigators); state medical examiner; his sister's lawsuit (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His sister sued the state in federal civil rights litigation over the beatings and the delayed medical care that preceded his death, and no settlement or award amount is reported.
Sources (5)
- Family of man who died after alleged assault by jail guards says justice is delayed
- Officer At Woodbridge Prison Accused Of Beating Inmate, Who Later Died
- Corrections officer indicted in fight with detainee who later died
- NJ corrections officer admits beating sex offender ward inmate who died
- Prison for NJ corrections officer who beat sex offender who died