(GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga.) — The family of an inmate has filed a lawsuit against the medical corporation which provides care to inmates, after 26-year-old Deion Strayhon died in custody in April 2021. Also included in the lawsuit are physicians and nurses who treated him prior to his death.

Strayhon was one of seven individuals who died in Gwinnett County Jail in 2021, ranking it in first place amongst deaths in metro Atlanta jails.

Jail records indicate that on March 23, 2021, 13 days before his death, Strayhon reported suffering from “unexplained weight loss, constipation, and abdominal pain.” He was prescribed a stool softener by a jail doctor.

Still frustrated with his symptoms, he requested further assistance. The day before he died he reported being unable to hold down food, and not having used the restroom in over a week. He was scheduled a followup appointment the next day.

He never got the chance to see the doctor.

Strayhon was found the next morning, surrounded by a pool of blood, having fallen off of his bunk and losing consciousness. An autopsy revealed an ulcer in his small intestine, which eventually resulted in internal bleeding. Strayhon ultimately died of blood loss.

Part of what made the case stand out to the family was Strayhon’s reports of negligence from jail staff. Sherry Strayhon, his mother, received a letter written by a former cellmate and signed by 18 other inmates, claiming that deputies laughed and dismissed his attempts to get help.

Strayhon worried that his care was palliative, instead of designed to address any kind of root cause of his pain.

An internal investigation found no wrongdoing, and the Gwinnett County District Attorney’s Office chose not to file any charges.

NaphCare, the medical contractor, provided the following statement to FOX5 Atlanta.

“We contract medical healthcare providers to furnish adequate medical assistance and care to our inmate population. We depend heavily on their medical recommendations and expertise when inmates are in need of medical care. Medical requests submitted by Mr. Strayhon to the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office staff were fulfilled and provided to medical staff for review and action. We extend our prayers to the friends and family of Mr. Strayhon. It is our utmost diligence to ensure the safety, well-being, and security of all inmates in our custody.”

©2023 Cox Media Group