Matthew Vogel
Matthew Vogel, 39, was held at South Central Correctional Facility in Clifton, Tennessee, a prison run by CoreCivic, when he died in August 2024. His family's wrongful death lawsuit says his cellmate beat and stabbed him to death the day before he was due to be released, and alleges the company was negligent and lowered the cellmate's risk rating despite a violent history. His mother said he was really going to do the right thing and that she had been looking forward to seeing him, and that his grandchildren will never know him. CoreCivic said the safety of people in its care is its top priority, but it did not discuss details because of the ongoing litigation.
Cause of death, as reported: Killed by another person in custody (disputed; neglect alleged). Matthew Vogel's family, in a wrongful death lawsuit against CoreCivic, says his cellmate beat and stabbed him to death, and that CoreCivic lowered the cellmate's risk rating despite a violent history; CoreCivic says safety is its top priority and declined to discuss details because of the litigation.
Reported by: family's wrongful death lawsuit against CoreCivic (family or their lawyers); CoreCivic (the agency that held him).
Lawsuit: His family sued CoreCivic in a wrongful death lawsuit over his 2024 death at South Central Correctional Facility, alleging his cellmate's risk rating was lowered despite a violent history; the case is ongoing and no settlement or award is reported.