Quanell Offley
Quanell Offley, 31, died by suicide on December 3, 2013, while held in a solitary confinement cell at Rikers Island in New York City. According to the death claim attributed to his family's lawyer, Paul Weitz, he hanged himself with a bed sheet tied to an air vent. His family filed a damages suit against the city in Bronx Supreme Court, which says guards failed to provide appropriate medical care and suicide prevention despite his repeated warnings that he planned to kill himself. The city Law Department said it would review the lawsuit.
Cause of death, as reported: Died by suicide (neglect alleged). His family's lawsuit says guards failed to provide suicide prevention and appropriate medical care despite his repeated warnings that he planned to kill himself.
Reported by: Paul Weitz, the family's lawyer, in the lawsuit and statements to the Daily News (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His family sued the city of New York in Bronx Supreme Court, alleging guards failed to provide appropriate medical care and suicide prevention despite his repeated warnings that he planned to kill himself; the city Law Department said it would review the lawsuit, and no settlement or award amount is reported.