Lorenzo Trapp
Lorenzo Trapp, 62, was a former City of Charleston employee who was struggling with dementia and homelessness. He died in July 2024 while held in the Charleston County Jail, where a detention deputy found him in his cell. An autopsy attributed his death to severe dehydration tied to his mental illness, and Post and Courier reported that he had few places to go for care that could meet his needs. Live 5 News reported, citing documents, that deputies had not checked on or monitored him for hours before he died, and that he had been held in the jail's mental health unit. The State Law Enforcement Division closed its investigation with a ruling that the manner of death was medical.
Cause of death, as reported: Died from neglect by staff. An autopsy found severe dehydration tied to his mental illness and SLED ruled the manner a medical issue, while documents say deputies had not checked on him for hours before his death.
Reported by: autopsy; South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (outside investigators).