Salladin Barton
Salladin Barton was held at the Broome County Jail in Binghamton, New York, for about 19 months awaiting trial, and his family has said he was mentally ill and developmentally challenged. He was found dead in his cell on January 15, 2015. The cause of death has been disputed: his family and people held with him say guards mocked, goaded and beat him, and a state investigation and a federal judge later placed responsibility on the contracted medical company, after a medication side effect raised potassium levels in his blood. His brother, Yasir Barton, said the family saw him grow thin and feared for him, and the family wants a full accounting.
Cause of death, as reported: Cause not yet determined (disputed; neglect alleged). Family and people held with him allege guards mocked, goaded and beat him, while the direct cause remains unclear and toxicology is inconclusive; a state Commission of Correction investigation and a federal judge later held the contracted medical company responsible after a potassium imbalance from a medication side effect, saying medical staff did not obtain his discharge paperwork or run their own blood tests.
Reported by: article author citing family, people held with him, and toxicology reports (reporters); State Commission of Correction (outside investigators); federal judge; family; people held with him.