John Carlin III
John Carlin III, 51, a former New Jersey steelworker, died in October 2008 at Spring Creek Correctional Center in Seward, Alaska. Authorities said he was attacked and died of blunt-force trauma, and in late 2010 two men were indicted in connection with his death. His son, John Carlin IV, sued the Alaska Department of Corrections in 2010, saying other men held at the prison beat his father in repeated attacks, that he repeatedly asked prison officials for help, and that prison staff should have protected him after the earlier assaults. The son says he wants to learn what happened to his father.
Cause of death, as reported: Killed by another person in custody (disputed; neglect alleged). Authorities say he was beaten to death by other inmates, and his son's lawsuit says prison staff ignored his repeated pleas for help after earlier assaults, so the foreseeable attacks were not prevented.
Reported by: Alaska State Troopers (outside investigators); Alaska Department of Corrections (the agency that held him); his son, John Carlin IV, in a lawsuit against the Alaska Department of Corrections (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His son, John Carlin IV, sued the Alaska Department of Corrections in 2010 over his death at Spring Creek prison, alleging staff ignored his pleas for protection after earlier assaults.