Elmer Winston Pless
Elmer Winston Pless died on May 15, 2023, in the mental health unit of the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison in Butts County. According to a lawsuit brought by his surviving spouse, Marilyn Pless, he had bipolar disorder and needed treatment and medication. The lawsuit says his cellmate choked him during a struggle lasting about two and a half hours, while guards did not respond to calls for help and required checks were not made. The Georgia Department of Corrections declined to comment.
Cause of death, as reported: Killed by another person in custody (disputed; neglect alleged). His surviving spouse, Marilyn Pless, says in a lawsuit that his cellmate choked him during a struggle lasting about two and a half hours while guards did not respond to calls for help and required checks were not made.
Reported by: Marilyn Pless, surviving spouse, in a lawsuit (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His surviving spouse, Marilyn Pless, sued prison officers and administrators over his death, and the lawsuit has not been resolved in court.