Inmate who died while infested with insects suffered from starvation and dehydration, autopsy says

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC/Gray News) - Shelby County recorded its first death in the county jail in 2024, and a lawsuit could be on the way because of the gruesome details of his death.

As a result, civil rights attorney Ben Crump is calling for a federal investigation into 201 Poplar.

Crump says 42-year-old Ramon McGhee was found unresponsive in the jail on Jan. 10. Crump says McGhee was pronounced dead at the hospital two days later while “infested with insects.”

Crump says the hospital told McGhee’s family he was covered in lice and bed bugs. His body was found covered in sores that attorneys believe were caused by the insects.

Crump said McGhee was pronounced dead at the hospital two days later while “infested with insects.”

“They found [insects] in his head, and his hair, his face, his nose, his mouth, his chest, his pubic area, front and back, his arms, his legs,” he said.

Crump said an independent preliminary autopsy report requested by the family reveals some of the factors that caused his death were severe malnutrition, starvation, dehydration and extensive insect infestation.

McGhee’s mother Lisa Choat said she was stonewalled by guards the last three months before her son’s death.

Despite sending food to the prison three times a week, she said she doesn’t know why her son wasn’t getting his meals.

“I was sending him food from iCare Gifts that they sent to the prisons, and I was sending it to him three times a week. So, I couldn’t understand how he was starving when I was sending him meals,” said Choat.

The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office called McGhee’s death “unacceptable” and “intolerable.”

Sheriff Floyd Bonner Jr. released a statement that said, “Immediate action was taken by alerting the (Tennessee Bureau of Investigation) and the District Attorney’s Office upon his hospital transfer. Unfortunately, directions concerning his cell cleaning and personal hygiene were disregarded, and crucial information was withheld.”

The family is demanding criminal culpability and civil accountability.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation was asked by the Shelby County District Attorney’s office to investigate the inmate’s death and conduct an autopsy.

The sheriff’s office turned down requests for more specifics on the investigation of McGhee’s death as well as the other “incidents” under the microscope at the jail.

McGhee was behind bars after being charged with two counts of first-degree murder and aggravated assault after allegedly shooting and killing someone at a Bartlett gas station in November 2022.

“They shouldn’t be sentenced to death just for merely going to jail awaiting their court date,” said Crump.

Crump also represented the family of Lashawn Thompson, an inmate in Atlanta who died in the Fulton County Jail in September 2022.

Fulton County reached a $4 million settlement with Thompson’s family.

Crump is calling for the Department of Justice to open an investigation into Shelby County’s jail.

“The family deserves the answers, and we deserve to make sure we prevent it from ever happening again,” said Crump.

At least 52 people have died in the county jail between 2016 and 2023.

“We can’t have this epidemic continue,” said Crump.

McGhee’s family is the ninth family in Memphis to be represented by attorney Ben Crump.

WMC reached out to the Department of Justice and asked if they’re considering or planning to launch an investigation into the jail.

A spokesperson said they wouldn’t be commenting.

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