Justin Meno
Justin Meno was 22 and was held at Guam's Department of Corrections. He was beaten in the maximum security unit (Post 6) in March 2017, and internal documents say he was found bound, with a rag in his mouth, drenched and unconscious, and barely breathing when staff reached him. A judge released him from DOC custody in June, and he was recovering at GMH's Skilled Nursing Unit when he died in September 2017. The medical examiner attributed the death to a benign throat tumor, while his sister's federal lawsuit says negligence by prison officials and the assault caused it.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of illness (disputed; neglect alleged). The medical examiner attributed the death to a benign throat tumor, while his sister's federal lawsuit says prison officials were negligent and an assault by other inmates caused his death.
Reported by: Medical examiner Dr. Aurelio Espinola (medical examiner or coroner); Sister Brianna Lynn Meno's federal lawsuit (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His sister sued the Guam Department of Corrections, a former director and the government, alleging officials failed to follow proper procedures and caused his death, and in 2019 the Attorney General's office asked the court to dismiss the claims against the government and the department, with no settlement or award reported.