Deion Strayhon
Deion Strayhon was 26 and the only child of Sherry Strayhon, who says he complained for weeks of stomach pain and that his requests for an x-ray went unanswered. He died in April 2021 at the Gwinnett County Jail, where he was held before trial. The autopsy found he died of blood loss from a ruptured ulcer in his small intestine, and his family's wrongful death lawsuit says his care was inadequate and accuses the jail's former medical contractor, NaphCare, and its staff of malpractice. NaphCare says his requests were fulfilled and forwarded for review, and an internal investigation found no wrongdoing, while prosecutors declined to file charges. The GBI and the sheriff's office investigated the death, and the family continues to dispute whether it could have been prevented.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of illness (disputed; neglect alleged). An autopsy found he died of a bleeding ulcer, while his family's wrongful death lawsuit says NaphCare staff ignored his weeks of stomach pain and unanswered requests for an x-ray, and his mother says jail staff ignored his worsening health.
Reported by: autopsy; Gwinnett County Sheriff's Office (the agency that held him); family's wrongful death lawsuit (family or their lawyers); his mother; fellow inmates' letter (witnesses); NaphCare, the jail's former medical contractor (the agency that held him).
Lawsuit: His family filed a wrongful death lawsuit in Gwinnett County State Court against NaphCare, the jail's former medical contractor, and several employees, and no settlement or award amount has been reported.
News reports (5)
- The FOX 5 I-Team looks at deaths inside the Gwinnett County jail
- I-Team: Gwinnett County inmate dies from treatable illness
- Families of 3 inmates who died at Gwinnett jail push for changes - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
- Family of inmate who died of treatable illness at Gwinnett County Jail files lawsuit
- Family of inmate who died in Gwinnett County Jail files lawsuit over wrongful death