Rosemary Ofume
Rosemary Ofume, 59, was held at the federal prison in Aliceville, Alabama, having been transferred there only that month. A civil rights lawsuit says she became seriously ill after an adverse reaction to a tuberculosis test she had objected to, and that staff turned her away from the clinic. The lawsuit says her cellmate repeatedly raised the alarm, but officers dismissed her each time. An independent autopsy found that Rosemary died of pulmonary embolisms, and her son said they had spoken often and that she stayed in frequent contact with her children while she was sick.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of illness (neglect alleged). Her civil rights lawsuit says staff turned her away from the clinic and officers dismissed her cellmate's repeated emergency alarms, and an independent autopsy found she died of pulmonary embolisms.
Reported by: civil rights lawsuit; independent autopsy.
Lawsuit: A civil rights lawsuit over her death alleges she became seriously ill after an adverse reaction to a tuberculosis test and that staff turned her away from the clinic, and no settlement or award amount has been reported.