Lucas Vieira
Lucas Vieira, 41, of East Newark, died at the Essex County Correctional Facility in Newark in August 2018. Officials said the death was a suspected suicide by hanging, and his family was told he had hanged himself while restrained in a straitjacket on suicide watch. His brother, Andre Vieira, and the estate sued the county and the jail's medical provider, saying he was not properly screened, monitored and treated, and that he was mentally ill. The Essex County Prosecutor's Office has opened a criminal investigation into neglect and record falsification, and the family says it still does not know how he took his life while restrained.
Cause of death, as reported: Died by suicide (disputed; neglect alleged). Lucas Vieira's family and their attorney say he hanged himself while restrained in a straitjacket on suicide watch, and his brother's lawsuit alleges he was not properly screened, monitored or treated, while the county executive's spokesman called it a suspected suicide and the family says they have not been told the results of any investigation.
Reported by: family and their attorneys; Hillary Nappi, attorney for Vieira's estate and brother (family or their lawyers); Andre Vieira's lawsuit (family or their lawyers); Essex County executive's spokesman (the agency that held him); Patch (reporters).
Lawsuit: His brother Andre sued Essex County, the former warden and CFG Health Systems over his death on suicide watch in 2018, alleging failures in screening, monitoring and mental health treatment, and the sources report no settlement or award amount.