The grieving family of an Alabama inmate who died two years ago in his prison cell is suing the state corrections officials for the neglect that caused his death.
Thomas Lee Rutledge passed away from hyperthermia on Dec. 7, 2020, inside his cell at William E. Donaldson Correctional Facility.
The man had an internal temperature of 109 when he was found unconscious inside his cell. The lawsuit alleges officers knew that the mental facility unit where Rutledge was confined had heating problems.
“[Rutledge] was literally baked to death in his cell by excessive heat generated by the prison’s heating system.”
“He was housed on a mental health ward, where inmates were confined to their cells around the clock, including eating and bathing in their cells.”
“His death was the direct result of the deliberate indifference or malice of the prison officials, corrections officers, and maintenance personnel at Donaldson, and of the negligence and/or wantonness of the contractor entities,” the lawsuit added.
An investigator was at the scene after the inmate’s death and described fellow inmates’ cells during questioning through tray doors as “hotter than three hells,” and like “when you are getting something out of the oven and it hits your face.”
