Two families in #Alabama have alleged that their deceased loved ones' organs were inexplicably missing after being incarcerated by the Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC). Brandon Clay Dotson's family filed a lawsuit claiming that his body was returned without a heart after he died inside Ventress Correctional Facility in November 2023. The family ordered a second autopsy, revealing that Dotson's heart had been removed without permission. The case remains open, and the fate of Dotson's heart remains unknown.
Another family, that of Charles Edward Singleton, has stepped forward with similar allegations. Singleton, who died in November 2021 while incarcerated, had his body returned to the family with missing organs, including the brain. The funeral director informed the family that there were no organs in the body.
Charlene Drake, Singleton's daughter, provided written testimony alleging that the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), where the autopsy was performed, did not explain what happened to her father's organs. UAB declined to comment on the "pending litigation." ADOC stated that unless specifically requested, organs are not returned to the body after an autopsy.
Both cases highlight a disturbing pattern of missing organs in the Alabama prison system, with families left in the dark about the fate of their loved ones' organs. Legal battles are ongoing, and the Alabama Department of Corrections has not commented on the allegations.
We recognize that such egregious violations of human dignity underscore the urgent need for a comprehensive overhaul of the criminal justice system. These cases represent a profound disregard for the rights and humanity of incarcerated individuals and their families. We stand in solidarity with the affected families and call for full transparency, accountability, and systemic reform within the ADOC.
Link: Business Insider
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