Otis Bland
Otis Bland was held at Broad River Correctional Institution in Columbia, South Carolina, when he was attacked by several other people held there in August 2017. His family's wrongful death lawsuit says he was repeatedly stabbed and died about two weeks later from his injuries. The lawsuit alleged overcrowding, missing officers, open dorm doors and a failure to respond to a medical emergency, and the South Carolina Department of Correction settled the case for $250,000. Two other men attacked in the same incident survived.
Cause of death, as reported: Killed by another person in custody (disputed; neglect alleged). His family's wrongful death lawsuit says other inmates repeatedly stabbed him after overcrowding, missing officers and open dorm doors left him unprotected, and that staff failed to respond to a medical emergency; the state Department of Correction settled the suit for $250,000.
Reported by: family's wrongful death lawsuit (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His family sued the South Carolina Department of Correction over his death and the department settled for $250,000.