Desmond W.
Desmond W., a 17-year-old, died by hanging in his cell at Mecklenburg County Jail North on November 21, 2020, less than a day after he was placed there. Officials said he apparently died by suicide, and the sheriff's office said he was found unresponsive, with jail medical staff and first responders unable to revive him. His mother's civil lawsuit says he was on suicide alert, which required frequent checks, yet a deputy walked past his cell several times without properly looking in and observation logs were later filled in for times no one had checked. The sheriff's office declined to comment on the video and the deputy's conduct, citing the pending lawsuit. The State Bureau of Investigation and the state Department of Health and Human Services are reviewing whether required cell checks were done.
Cause of death, as reported: Died by suicide (disputed; neglect alleged). Officials say he apparently hanged himself, but his mother's lawsuit says deputies walked past his cell without properly observing him, back-filled blank observation logs, and did not perform the required checks while he was on suicide alert.
Reported by: Mecklenburg Sheriff's Office (Chief Deputy Rodney Collins) (the agency that held him); State Bureau of Investigation (outside investigators); his mother's civil lawsuit (attorney Michael L. Littlejohn) (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His mother filed a civil lawsuit over his death, which remained pending, and no settlement or award amount has been reported.