Family Sues Over Inmate's Death in Georgia Prison

Inmate left in scorching outdoor cell for five hours
By Newser.AI Read our AI policy
Posted Jul 26, 2024 8:00 AM CDT
Family Sues Over Inmate's Death in Georgia Prison
Norma Bibiano, center, holds a news conference with her attorney, left, in Decatur, Ga., on Thursday, July 25, 2024. Norma Bibiano son, Juan Ramirez Bibiano, an inmate at Telfair State Prison in Georgia, died of heart and lung failure after officers left him in an outdoor cell in the summer heat for...   (AP Photo/Charlotte Kramon)

A lawsuit has been launched against the Georgia Department of Corrections following the death of Juan Carlos Ramirez Bibiano, 27, at Telfair State Prison on July 20, 2023. Ramirez's family alleges negligence, saying he was left in an outdoor cell in 96-degree heat for five hours without water or shade. According to the complaint, Ramirez died from heart and lung failure caused by heat exposure.

On the morning of Ramirez's death, Warden Andrew McFarlane instructed prison staff to keep inmates hydrated and limit their time outdoors. However, around 3 p.m., nurses found Ramirez in distress, lying on the hot concrete, vomiting and showing signs of severe heatstroke. His internal body temperature reached 107 degrees Fahrenheit. Emergency services transported him to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 8:25 p.m.

Attorney Jeff Filipovits stated, "The number of deaths that are occurring in custody is galling, and the absolute lawlessness inside of prisons is a humanitarian crisis." This incident comes amid heightened scrutiny of Georgia's prison system, which is already under investigation by the US Department of Justice for issues including violence and understaffing.

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Ramirez's mother, Norma Bibiano, expressed her grief at a news conference, recalling her son as loving and intelligent. She remarked, "A piece of my heart is gone." The family remains uncertain about the exact reasons Ramirez was placed outside and which officers were responsible for his care. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)

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