James W. Hutchinson
James Hutchinson died on July 31, 2018, while held at the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution in Delaware, according to a Delaware Department of Correction news release. His cellmate said Hutchinson apologized to him as he grew sick, and his attorney, Steve Hampton, said he had become addicted to opioids after being prescribed pills for an injury. A lawsuit filed by Hampton says Hutchinson suffered for more than 24 hours on the floor of his cell while staff did not send him to a hospital, and it cites an autopsy attributing his death to opiate withdrawal and pneumonia. The lawsuit names the medical provider and state prison officials as defendants.
Cause of death, as reported: Died from neglect by staff (disputed). Dover attorney Steve Hampton's lawsuit says correctional and medical staff did not send him to a hospital for more than 24 hours while he suffered in his cell, and cites an autopsy attributing his death to opiate withdrawal and pneumonia.
Reported by: Dover attorney Steve Hampton, in a lawsuit (family or their lawyers); autopsy cited in the lawsuit.
Lawsuit: A lawsuit filed by his attorney, citing an autopsy that attributed his death to opiate withdrawal and pneumonia, names the medical provider and state prison officials as defendants; no settlement or award amount is reported.