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Died in prison

Lamont Mealy

51 years old · died July 5, 2023 · Western Correctional Institution, Allegany County, Maryland

Lamont Mealy died on July 5, 2023, at Western Correctional Institution in Cumberland, Maryland, where he was held in state custody. The Maryland medical examiner's office ruled the cause dehydration and the manner an accident. His family's lawsuit alleges that officers cut off water to his cell for about a week, delayed medical care and skipped required welfare checks, and that the department withheld records; the department denies the most serious allegations. The state has agreed to pay nearly $314,000 to settle two public-records lawsuits brought by the family, and Secretary Carolyn J. Scruggs criticized the department's own investigation of the death.

Cause of death, as reported: Died from neglect by staff (disputed). The medical examiner ruled the death an accident from dehydration, while the family's wrongful-death lawsuit says officers cut off his water and failed to get him medical care, and the department denies the most serious allegations.

Reported by: Maryland medical examiner's office (medical examiner or coroner); Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (the agency that held him); his family's attorneys and sister's lawsuit (family or their lawyers).

Lawsuit: His family sued over withheld records and the state agreed to pay nearly $314,000 to settle two public-records lawsuits, while a separate wrongful-death suit against the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services and more than two dozen employees alleges officers cut off his water and delayed medical care.

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