Yad Duu Quay Mark Cook Jr.
Yad Duu Quay Mark Cook Jr. was 27, a father, an EMT, a musician and a Lingít dancer whom his family remembers as loving and giving, and his grandfather Tom Abel spoke publicly about the family's grief. His family says he developed severe back pain after a clinic visit in Hoonah and was held in solitary-like conditions at Lemon Creek Correctional Center in Juneau, where he died by suicide on April 22, 2023. The ACLU, in a lawsuit, says he was placed in solitary confinement instead of receiving the back surgery he was scheduled for, and died by suicide there on April 23, 2023. The Department of Corrections says it does not practice true solitary confinement and did not answer questions about his care or suicide prevention procedures.
Cause of death, as reported: Died by suicide (neglect alleged). The ACLU's lawsuit says staff placed him in solitary confinement instead of giving him the back care he was scheduled to receive, and his family and the Alaska State Troopers report that he died by suicide there.
Reported by: ACLU lawsuit (family or their lawyers); his family; Alaska State Troopers (outside investigators).
Lawsuit: The ACLU filed a lawsuit over Yad Duu Quay Mark Cook Jr.'s death at Lemon Creek Correctional Center, and no settlement or award amount has been reported.