Investigations Uncover Disturbing Conditions in South Carolina Jails
In the small town of Trenton, South Carolina, the spotlight has turned towards the state’s jails as the United States Department of Justice has launched two investigations into facilities that have been plagued with issues. However, an investigation by the I-TEAM reveals that these actions may not be enough to address the alarming problems lurking under the surface in jails throughout the state, particularly in less scrutinized facilities.
Spotlight on Two Facilities
While South Carolina is home to 46 counties, each with its own jail, the federal government is only looking into the Sheriff Al Cannon Detention Center in Charleston and the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center in Columbia. These two jails are located in larger communities where issues have already drawn public attention. But what happens in smaller jails, like the Bamberg County Detention Center, where tragedies can fly under the radar?
A Devastating Loss
One such tragedy unfolded in Bamberg County, where a man named Alan Thibodeau faced his own harrowing battle. Rather than receiving help, he spent five months in a detention center where he ultimately starved to death. Unfortunately, this case is not isolated; South Carolina also hosts 21 state prisons with numerous cases of death and neglect occurring in silence.
A Heartbreaking Story of Addiction
The accounts of individuals like Jeremy Kelley highlight the dire conditions within these facilities. Jeremy struggled with addiction, a battle that plagued him long before he experienced incarceration. His family thought that being behind bars would offer him a chance to recover, believing it to be the safest place for him.
In July 2021, their hopes crumbled when Jeremy was found unresponsive in the Trenton Correctional facility. His family watched in disbelief the grainy footage, revealing the moments leading to his tragic demise. Despite being in a facility that was supposed to protect him, they discovered a series of critical missteps that led to a devastating six-decade wait for medical assistance.
A Timeline of Errors
The timeline provided by the footage offers a chilling glance into what happened that night. At around 4:09 a.m., Jeremy is seen collapsing from his bed. Just a minute later, he slumps over, prompting another inmate to seek help. However, the officer on duty, Officer Shermere Hardin, spent only a brief moment assessing the situation before retreating to her office, leaving the critical footage of Jeremy’s last moments to play without any sign of appropriate action.
Help Arrives Too Late
By 5:14 a.m., more than an hour after Jeremy first fell, inmates were frantically alerting officers that something was terribly wrong. With no AED on-site, a defibrillator had to be fetched from another part of the prison. As the clock ticked, Jeremy’s condition worsened, and he was ultimately pronounced dead at 6:40 a.m. of what was officially reported as “acute cardiac dysrhythmia.” When accountability was assessed, Officer Hardin faced no charges; she continued to work despite her admitted failure to assist Jeremy during his most vulnerable moments.
The Consequences of Oversight
As tragic stories like Jeremy’s emerge, they lead to substantive questions regarding the care provided to inmates across the state. With families like Jeremy’s seeking justice, the financial toll is evident. Recently, they settled a lawsuit against the South Carolina Department of Corrections for over half a million dollars, highlighting the cost of negligence borne by taxpayers.
Moreover, the community continues to grapple with the impact of these events. Jeremy’s mother, Beverly Pilz, eloquently expressed the void left in their lives, mourning everything from missed family moments to milestones that he would never experience, leading her to assert, “They just let him die.”
Seeking Reform
As the Department of Justice digs deeper into the conditions of select facilities, questions linger about the myriad of smaller jails across South Carolina. What’s being done to ensure that similar tragedies are prevented in places without as much scrutiny? The community and families impacted are left hoping that more than just two facilities will come under the microscope, so no family has to endure the heartbreaking loss that Jeremy’s family continues to grapple with.
At a time when reform is desperately needed, stories like Jeremy’s serve as a stark reminder of the work ahead. With more investigations underway, residents and lawmakers alike will be watching closely to see if significant changes emerge, leading to more compassionate care and safety for those behind bars.
