Deaths in Custody
Died in prison

Steven Davis

35 years old · died October 4, 2019 · Donaldson Correctional Facility, Jefferson County, Alabama

Steven Davis, 35, was held at William E. Donaldson Correctional Facility in Bessemer, Alabama, when officers confronted him in a behavior modification unit in October 2019. He was taken to UAB Hospital with critical head injuries and removed from life support the next day. A medical examiner ruled his death a homicide from blunt force injuries to the head. His mother, Sandy Ray, says officers beat him after he had dropped his weapons, and the family's wrongful death suit was settled for $250,000. The Alabama Department of Corrections says the force was justified and says he rushed officers with makeshift weapons, while the Attorney General's Office declined to bring criminal charges against the officers.

Cause of death, as reported: Killed by staff (disputed). The medical examiner ruled the death a homicide from blunt head injuries, and his mother's lawsuit says officers beat him, while the Alabama Department of Corrections says the officers' force was justified and the state settled the suit for $250,000.

Reported by: medical examiner or coroner; his mother's wrongful death lawsuit (family or their lawyers); Alabama Department of Corrections (the agency that held him); incarcerated witnesses who spoke to the family's lawyer (witnesses); the documentary The Alabama Solution.

Lawsuit: His mother sued over his death at Donaldson Correctional Facility, and the state settled the excessive force lawsuit for $250,000.

News reports (9)

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