Malga Harun Yanga
Malga Harun Yanga, 23, died on September 4, 2024, at the Newton Correctional Facility in Newton, Iowa, where he was held in state custody. An estate lawsuit says he had days of stomach pain and vomiting blood, that a nurse who saw him did not reassess him or request a physician, and that staff did not get him medical help overnight before he was found unresponsive. The Iowa Board of Nursing says he died of a perforated ulcer after a nurse failed to assess his worsening symptoms, and the nurse's license was suspended under a settlement. The defendants deny wrongdoing, and the civil case is set for trial in May 2027.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of illness (neglect alleged). The Iowa Board of Nursing says a nurse failed to assess his worsening symptoms and that he died of a perforated ulcer, while his estate's lawsuit says staff ignored repeated requests for medical help before he was found unresponsive.
Reported by: Iowa Board of Nursing (outside investigators); his estate's civil lawsuit (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His estate filed a civil lawsuit over his death at Newton Correctional Facility, and the defendants deny wrongdoing; the case is set for trial in May 2027, and a nurse's license was suspended under a settlement with the Iowa Board of Nursing.
News reports (6)
- 23-year-old inmate dies at Newton Correctional Facility
- Newton Correctional Facility inmate dies at age 23
- Prisoner from BV Dies
- Inmate vomited blood for days before death; Iowa nurse now faces license suspension
- After an Iowa inmate’s death, state prison nurse’s license is suspended for 90 days
- Second state-employed nurse is sanctioned for prison inmate’s death