Justin Xaochay Thao
Justin Xaochay Thao, 20, was held at the Grady County Law Enforcement Center in Oklahoma in November 2017, and his family says he was looking forward to finishing his sentence and going back to school to study real estate. He talked with his mother, May Kou Heu, on the phone most days, and his father described him as his best friend. Jailers found him hanging in an isolated segregation cell and he died in a hospital two days later. The medical examiner's office ruled the death a suicide by hanging without a full autopsy, while the family's lawsuit says jailers ignored his pleas for help, did not check on him for more than an hour, and used a stun gun on him several times while he was handcuffed; the jail did not respond to requests for comment.
Cause of death, as reported: Died by suicide (disputed; neglect alleged). The Oklahoma medical examiner ruled it a suicide by hanging without a full autopsy, but his family's lawsuit says jailers ignored his pleas for help, did not check on him for over an hour, and used a stun gun on him while he was handcuffed.
Reported by: Oklahoma medical examiner's office (medical examiner or coroner); his family's lawsuit (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His family sued over his death at the Grady County jail, alleging jailers ignored his pleas for help and failed to check on him, and the lawsuit seeks damages over $75,000.