An independent autopsy of the Georgia man who died in an Atlanta jail under mysterious circumstances has ruled his cause of death as a homicide.
People reports that the autopsy—which was paid for by Colin Kaepernick—reveals that LaShawn Thompson experienced "dehydration, malnutrition, severe body insect infestation," and "untreated decompensated schizophrenia.”
The 35-year-old was discovered in his cell at Fulton County Jail last September, where his body was crawling with bed bugs.
"It's enough that the bed bugs and lice sat there and ate my brother to death, but it's the neglect that hurts me the most," Brad McCray, Thompson’s brother, said during a press conference outside the Georgia State Capitol Monday.
Thompson’s first autopsy, which was done by the Fulton County Medical Examiner, listed the cause of death as “undetermined.”
Kaepernick then reached out to cover the costs of the independent autopsy through his nonprofit organization, Know Your Rights Camp. Independent autopsies can run anywhere between $20,000 to $50,000.
Thompson had been arrested last June in connection with a misdemeanor battery charge and was placed in the jail’s psychiatric unit, as it was believed he was dealing with mental health issues. The facility was falling into disrepair, with officials looking into spending $500,000 to fix a myriad of issues, including a bed bug, lice, and vermin infestation, overcrowding, and hiring more staff for the mental health unit.
