Robert Ellinger
Robert Ellinger was 46 when he died on October 7, 2018, at Ridgeland Correctional Institution in Jasper County, South Carolina. A lawsuit filed by his mother says he injected methamphetamine and fentanyl in his cell, and that his roommate alerted a guard after he became unresponsive. The lawsuit says understaffing and contraband in the prison contributed to his death and seeks more than $1 million in damages. The South Carolina Department of Corrections declined to comment on the pending litigation.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of an overdose (disputed; neglect alleged). The family's lawsuit says he injected methamphetamine and fentanyl in his cell and that understaffing and contraband caused his death, while the corrections department declined to comment on the pending litigation.
Reported by: his family's lawsuit filed by his mother (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His mother sued the South Carolina Department of Corrections over his death at Ridgeland Correctional Institution, seeking more than $1 million, and no settlement or award has been reported.