Leonard Fortner
Leonard Fortner, 37, died in April 2024 after he was stabbed in a housing day room at the Fulton County Jail in Atlanta, Georgia. His mother, Donna Fortner, has said he meant a great deal to the family, and she and his father, Terry, have called for accountability and reform. He was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, and the Fulton County Sheriff's Office said another person held at the jail stabbed him. His family has sued Fulton County, the sheriff and the county commission, alleging that staff kept him in general population despite medical reasons for isolation. The sheriff's office has declined to comment on the pending suit, and accounts differ on the number of stab wounds.
Cause of death, as reported: Killed by another person in custody (neglect alleged). The Fulton County Sheriff's Office says another detainee stabbed him, and his family's lawsuit says staff kept him in general population despite medical reasons for isolation.
Reported by: Fulton County Sheriff's Office (the agency that held him); Fortner family lawsuit (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His family sued Fulton County, the sheriff, and the county commission over his death, and no settlement or award amount has been reported.
News reports (7)
- Fulton County Jail inmate stabbing death
- Another Fulton County inmate dies in custody - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
- Suicide suspected in latest Fulton County Jail death, sheriff’s office says
- Family of murdered inmate seeking justice
- Fortner family demands accountability after son's murder inside Fulton County Jail
- Family of Fulton County Jail inmate stabbed to death files lawsuit
- Family of inmate stabbed to death inside Fulton County jail files wrongful death lawsuit - WSB-TV