Tou Thao
Tou Thao, 38, was found unresponsive on the floor of his cell at California State Prison, Sacramento, on Thursday, September 5, 2019, and was pronounced dead at an outside hospital. Prison officials said they are investigating his death as a homicide and have identified his cellmate as a suspect. His family later filed a federal lawsuit seeking more than $5 million, saying prison staff ignored warnings that the cellmate wanted to be in a single cell and would kill Tou Thao.
Cause of death, as reported: Killed by another person in custody (neglect alleged). Prison officials are investigating the death as a homicide by a cellmate, and his family's federal lawsuit says prison staff ignored warnings that the cellmate wanted to be in a single cell and would kill Thao.
Reported by: California State Prison, Sacramento officials (the agency that held him); his family, in a federal lawsuit (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His family filed a federal lawsuit seeking more than $5 million, alleging prison staff ignored warnings that his cellmate wanted to be in a single cell and would kill him.