Karon Golightly
Karon Golightly died on May 14, 2021, while held at the Mecklenburg County jail in Charlotte, North Carolina. His mother filed a federal lawsuit saying he was found unconscious in his cell after an 86-minute gap in staff safety checks, and that staff ignored warning signs of his mental health needs. The lawsuit says he had bipolar disorder, anxiety, insomnia and depression and had reported mental health concerns to health care staff. The lawsuit attributes his cardiac arrest to either taking someone else's medication or an overdose. The Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office declined to comment on the pending litigation.
Cause of death, as reported: Cause not yet determined (disputed; neglect alleged). His mother's federal lawsuit says cardiac arrest followed an 86-minute gap in staff safety checks and staff ignored warning signs of his mental health needs; the lawsuit attributes the arrest to either someone else's medication or an overdose, and the Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office declined to comment.
Reported by: federal lawsuit filed by Golightly's mother (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His mother filed a federal lawsuit over his death in the Mecklenburg County jail, and no settlement or award amount has been reported.