Preventable deaths in taxpayer-financed prisons and jails
Anthony Shumake, small photo right died at Solano State Prison from a simple tooth infection that was ignored. His uncle, Reverend Andre Shumake, president of the Richmond Improvement Association, will speak at the Dec 4 press Capitol press conference about the many deaths of people who couldn't afford to sue, but who are forever impacted by unbearable incompetence.
- Anthony Shumake, small photo right died at Solano State Prison from a simple tooth infection that was ignored. His uncle, Reverend Andre Shumake, president of the Richmond Improvement Association, will speak at the Dec 4 press Capitol press conference about the many deaths of people who couldn't afford to sue, but who are forever impacted by unbearable incompetence.
- Shirley Ward died in January, 2009 at the Chowchilla Institute for Women shortly before release. Prison officials refused to answer questions and one year later, nothing is known about her suspicious death, just days before her release. Linda Ward, who was a Department of Defense employee for 20 years, now retired, will describe the way that she and her family were mistreated at the press conference Dec 4.
- Greg Thomas died a violent and suspicious death in July, 2009 at CSP Lancaster. His brother Richard Thomas will speak about having a distress warning from his brother, and then being totally ignored by prison employees. Four months later, he still has no answers. Greg Thomas was found severely beaten, with a bag over his head, a rope around his throat, stuffed under a bunk. Even in a life and death emergency, there is no place to go for help.
- This painting of Nancy Mendoza Provencio, the mother of Daniel Provencio, who was shot and killed by a prison guard at Wasco, was painted by B. Cayenne Bird. Through a campaign of international exposure of the young man being shackled while on life support, a parole was finally granted just days before he died. This case was instrumental in the passage of AB1539 in 2007, which has yet to be implemented.
- Timothy Souders' mother, Theresa Vaughn was awarded millions for his death after he was denied water and shackled to a slab until he died of dehydration. His crime? Shoplifting. Theresa Vaughn is using her award to benefit the mentally ill in prisons and will be speaking on Dec 4 at the UNION press conference. She has appeared several times on 60 Minutes.
- James Moore was beaten to death for four hours by sheriffs in Bakersfield, Calif. His crime? Yelling in his yard. His two young sons were awarded $6 million and two of almost 20 sheriffs who kicked, punched and beat him as he lay shackled were convicted in a criminal trial this month. Alicia Moore will be speaking at the press conference Friday Dec 4 about her personal nightmare battle.
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