Robert Ellinger
Robert Ellinger, 46, died on October 7, 2018, at Ridgeland Correctional Institution in Jasper County, South Carolina, where he was in the custody of the state prison system. According to a lawsuit filed by his mother against the S.C. Department of Corrections, he injected methamphetamine and fentanyl in his cell, and his roommate alerted a guard after he became unresponsive. The family's lawsuit blames understaffing and contraband for his death and seeks more than $1 million. The corrections department declined to comment on pending litigation.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of an overdose (neglect alleged). His mother's lawsuit says he injected methamphetamine and fentanyl in his cell and blames understaffing and contraband for his death.
Reported by: his mother's lawsuit against the S.C. Department of Corrections (family or their lawyers); Incarceration Transparency (advocates).
Lawsuit: His mother sued the South Carolina Department of Corrections over his death, seeking more than $1 million; the corrections department declined to comment on the pending litigation.