Thomas Lee Rutledge
Thomas Lee Rutledge, 44, died on Dec. 7, 2020, while held at William E. Donaldson Correctional Facility in Bessemer, Alabama. His sister's complaint describes him as mentally ill and says he dreamed of joining his mother in Alaska. The lawsuit, citing a Jefferson County Coroner's report, says he was found unresponsive in a mental health cell with a body temperature of 109 degrees and that the unit was over 100 degrees. The suit alleges that staff failed to act on the heat and blames staff and contractors for a heating system they allegedly knew was faulty. The Alabama Department of Corrections did not immediately respond to a request for comment on these claims.
Cause of death, as reported: Died from neglect by staff. His sister's lawsuit, citing the Jefferson County coroner's report, says the mental health unit overheated past 100 degrees and staff failed to act on it.
Reported by: Jefferson County Coroner's report (as cited in the lawsuit) (medical examiner or coroner); his sister's lawsuit (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His sister filed a federal lawsuit over his death at Donaldson Correctional Facility, and the reporting does not state any settlement or award amount.