Victor Woods
Victor Woods, 53, died on October 1, 2014, while held at the Anna M. Kross Center on Rikers Island in New York City. His longtime girlfriend, Terri Scroggins, described him as a man who had struggles in life but was a good person, and said he had worked as a tunnel worker. The city's chief medical examiner ruled the cause of death a gastrointestinal hemorrhage from peptic ulcer disease. His family's federal complaint alleges that officers assaulted him during his arrest and that health staff misdiagnosed him, and the Bronx District Attorney's office has said an officer falsely claimed he had sought medical help for Woods, an allegation for which the officer has been indicted.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of illness (disputed; neglect alleged). The city's chief medical examiner ruled the cause a gastrointestinal hemorrhage from peptic ulcer disease, but the family's federal complaint says Rikers health staff misdiagnosed him, and inmates say guards and medical workers took up to 20 minutes to start helping him while a guard watched on video without intervening.
Reported by: city's chief medical examiner (medical examiner or coroner); Bronx District Attorney's office (outside investigators); Terri Scroggins, his girlfriend, who was told by a jail chaplain (family or their lawyers); his family's federal complaint (family or their lawyers); inmates held with him.