Robert Taylor
Robert Taylor, 75, died while held at the Burlington County Jail in New Jersey. Witnesses told New Jersey 101.5 that guards made degrading remarks to him and that he was not given food during the five days he was held in a cell. A fellow person held at the jail wrote a letter describing his death, which led The Trentonian to review his records, and medical specialists who reviewed them concluded the death could have been prevented with proper medical care. The Burlington County medical examiner ruled the death natural and prosecutors found no criminal wrongdoing, while residents called for an independent investigation. His body went unclaimed in the county morgue for nearly six months until a group of people gathered resources to give him a proper burial.
Cause of death, as reported: Died from neglect by staff (disputed). The Burlington County medical examiner ruled the death natural, but medical specialists who reviewed his records said proper medical care could have prevented it, and witnesses say guards made degrading remarks to him and gave him no food over five days, and residents have called for an independent investigation.
Reported by: Burlington County medical examiner (medical examiner or coroner); Witnesses held at the Burlington County Jail (witnesses); Medical specialists who reviewed his records; Residents of Burlington County (advocates); The Trentonian (reporters).