Elmer Lee
Elmer Lee was 74, an Army veteran who served in Vietnam. His son, Robert Lee, said his father was in great spirits in their last conversation about a week before he died, despite leukemia and other health problems, and that he wished he had been able to talk with him in the hospital. Lee was held at Donovan, a California prison, and was hospitalized twice in the month before his death. Robert Lee said the family had no warning of how serious his condition was, and that the prison did not tell them until after Lee had chosen to withdraw from treatment and died. The cause of death was listed as cardiovascular disease, with COVID-19 as a contributing factor.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of illness (disputed; neglect alleged). The cause given is cardiovascular disease with COVID-19 as a contributing factor, but his son says the prison did not warn the family about how serious his condition was until after Lee chose to withdraw from treatment and died.
Reported by: Donovan (the agency that held him); his son.