The death of a New York City inmate who died earlier this year after spending hours in a sweltering prison has brought a lawsuit by his mother for $25 million in damages, as well shedding light on the human rights violations occurring throughout the U.S. prison system, according to the Associated Press.
Jerome Murdough, 56, a former Marine who was homeless and suffered from schizophrenia was arrested for trespassing and was found dead in February inside his cell at Rikers Island, the city's main jail complex, the AP reported.
Following Murdough's death, the Rikers Island warden heading the mental health unit was demoted and moved to a different area, and the officer responsible for supervising the area was suspended, the Department of Correction said last month, according to the AP.
Derek Sells is the attorney for Jerome's mother, Alma Murdough, according to the AP. The inmate's body was found in a pool of vomit and blood.
"The picture I saw of him with his mouth open gives me the impression that he was hollering for help and no one came," Alma Murdough told reporters at a press conference, according to the AP. "And that really tears me up. I think about it every day."
According to Sells, the room was so hot that three hours after Murdough's body had been removed, his internal temperature was still 103 degrees Fahrenheit, the AP reported. City officials have not commented on the temperature in the cell.
"This case involves a tragic incident and we will review the lawsuit and respond accordingly," said a spokeswoman for the New York City Law Department, according to the AP.
The day before Murdough's death, two work orders were filed citing excessive heat in his cell, said Sells, the AP reported. Sells added the inmate was on psychotropic medication and, therefore, more susceptible to overheating.
