Graydon Parker III
Graydon "Jerry" Parker III, 54, was a veteran who served two years in the Army with the 182nd Airborne Division. He died on May 21, 2017, after being taken to the Wayne County Detention Center in North Carolina following his arrest in May 2017. A civil rights complaint filed on behalf of his estate, with attorney Matthew Sullivan, alleges that guards pepper sprayed, hosed, tasered and restrained him while he was in a mental health crisis, and that he received no mental health screening or treatment. His mother, Margaret Jean Kelly, is pursuing the case, and her lawyer said the death was "completely preventable." The state's list of jail deaths records him as dying in the custody of the Wayne County jail on that date.
Cause of death, as reported: Killed by staff (neglect alleged). A civil rights complaint filed for his estate by attorney Matthew Sullivan says guards pepper sprayed, hosed, tasered and restrained him during a mental health crisis and gave him no mental health screening or treatment.
Reported by: news report; Civil rights complaint filed on behalf of Parker's estate, with attorney Matthew Sullivan (family or their lawyers).