Joseph Watts, Jr.
Joseph Watts, Jr., 35, was held at the J. Reuben Long Detention Center in Horry County, South Carolina, when he died on July 14, 2024. Jail medical staff checked him after he said he was not feeling well, and he was taken to the Conway Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead, according to the Sheriff's Office and reporting by MyHorryNews.com. His wife, Natalia Watts, says in a lawsuit against the contracted medical provider, Mediko, that he vomited repeatedly and lost consciousness in his cell, and that the company failed to intervene in time. The coroner's office has not yet determined a manner of death, and an autopsy and State Law Enforcement Division investigation were pending at the time of reporting.
Cause of death, as reported: Cause not yet determined (disputed; neglect alleged). His wife's lawsuit against Mediko, the contracted medical provider, says the provider failed to intervene in time as he vomited repeatedly and lost consciousness in his cell, while the coroner's office has not yet ruled on the cause and the autopsy was pending.
Reported by: Natalia Watts, his wife and representative of his estate, through a lawsuit against Mediko (family or their lawyers); Horry County Coroner's Office (medical examiner or coroner); Horry County Sheriff's Office (the agency that held him).
Lawsuit: His wife, Natalia Watts, sued Mediko, the contracted medical provider at the J. Reuben Long Detention Center, as representative of his estate, and the defendants had not yet responded as of the reporting; no settlement or award amount was reported.