Johnnie James
Johnnie James, 61, was held at William Donaldson Correctional Facility in Bessemer and died in August 2021 at UAB Hospital. The Jefferson County Coroner's Office said James died of a head injury from a fall in a day space area of the prison the day before. Records compiled by Incarceration Transparency list the cause as a fall with a head injury and a positive test for fentanyl. The Alabama Department of Corrections' Intelligence and Investigations unit is investigating the circumstances, and the manner of death is listed as pending.
Cause of death, as reported: Died in an accident. The Jefferson County Coroner's Office attributes his death to a head injury from a fall, and Incarceration Transparency's records also list a positive fentanyl test.
Reported by: Jefferson County Coroner's Office (medical examiner or coroner); Incarceration Transparency (advocates).