Deaths in Custody
Died in jail or a lockup

Glenn Foster Jr.

31 years old · died December 6, 2021 · Pickens County Jail, Pickens County, Alabama

Glenn Foster Jr. was a former New Orleans Saints player from Chicago, a husband and father whose family remembers him as a family man and businessman. He died on December 6, 2021, while held at the Pickens County Jail in Alabama, and was found unresponsive in a law enforcement vehicle when he reached a medical facility in Northport, where he was pronounced dead. His family's lawsuit alleges he was denied medical care, and that jail staff tased, beat, and choked him, and a federal judge has allowed the excessive force claims to proceed. The state autopsy, as reported, listed the manner of death as natural and the cause as hypertensive cardiovascular disease, while an independent autopsy commissioned by the family reported signs of neck compression and strangulation, and the state investigation is still open.

Cause of death, as reported: Died of illness (disputed; neglect alleged). The state autopsy ruled his death natural from hypertensive cardiovascular disease, but his family's lawsuit and attorney Ben Crump say jail staff tased, beat and strangled him, and his family says staff denied him medical treatment for two days.

Reported by: Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences (medical examiner or coroner); Dr. Michael Baden, pathologist hired by the family (medical examiner or coroner); Glenn Foster Jr.'s family and their attorney Ben Crump (lawsuit) (family or their lawyers).

Lawsuit: His estate and widow filed a wrongful death lawsuit over his death, and a federal judge allowed most of the claims, including excessive force claims, to proceed without any reported settlement or award.

News reports (20)

Read the Alabama reportSee on the Alabama mapSee on the national mapAll records

Questions, a correction, or a death I’ve missed? Email me at orion.j.taylor@gmail.com.