Fulton County Jail inmate LaShawn Thompson's family says he died after allegedly being eaten alive by insects and bedbugs. (Harper Law Firm)
The Department of Justice (DOJ) is actively investigating the jail where former President Donald Trump may be booked after his arrest in Fulton County.
DOJ opened an investigation into conditions inside the Fulton County Jail last month after an "extensive" review of publicly-available information. That review included a report about LaShawn Thompson, an inmate who died in September 2022 after he was allegedly eaten alive by bugs in his cell, FOX 5 Atlanta reported.
An autopsy said Thompson died of complications due to severe neglect and major contributing causes as untreated schizophrenia, dehydration, malnourishment and severe body insect infestation. His death was ruled a homicide.
"These autopsy findings confirm that Lashawn was killed by the extreme neglect of the Fulton County Jail and its staff," Ben Crump, a civil rights attorney representing Thompson's family in a lawsuit against the jail, said in a May 22 statement. "He was dehydrated, malnourished, and his body was infested inside and out with insects — it is truly one of the most horrific cases we have seen."
The state of the jail could complicate negotiations between the Fulton County Sheriff's Department and the Secret Service over how Trump will be booked.
According to the department's website, individuals who have been arrested are first taken to the Main Jail at 901 Rice Street NW, Atlanta, for booking. Fulton County Sheriff Pat Labat said earlier this month he expects Trump to be booked like any other criminal suspect, including fingerprinting and photographing.
Trump has an August 25 deadline to turn himself in to Fulton County authorities.
