Jerome Murdough
Jerome Murdough was a Marine Corps veteran who had been homeless, and a 2018 Daily Press article said he lived with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. He died in February 2014 in his cell at Rikers Island in New York City, where he was held in custody. The New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner ruled his death an accident, citing hypothermia due to exposure to heat. The Daily Press article said he was overcome by heat in his cell and described his death as one of many preventable deaths of people with mental illness in jails. The city later agreed to pay his mother, Alma Murdough, $2.25 million in a wrongful death claim.
Cause of death, as reported: Died from neglect by staff. The medical examiner ruled the death an accident from heat exposure, and advocates say the death in an overheated cell was preventable.
Reported by: New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner (medical examiner or coroner); news reporting on the death.
Lawsuit: His mother sued the city of New York and the city agreed to pay her $2.25 million.