How Could You? Hall of Shame-Jimariya Davidson case-Child Death and Lawsuit

This will be an archive of heinous actions by those involved in child welfare, foster care and adoption. We forewarn you that these are deeply disturbing stories that may involve sex abuse, murder, kidnapping and other horrendous actions.

From Atlanta, Georgia, “14-year-old Jimariya Davidson was held in “deplorable conditions” at the Metro Regional Youth Detention Center before he committed suicide.” “Despite witness reports the teen repeatedly threatened to harm himself, a guard watched him place a jumpsuit around his neck before the teen was left alone. He died April 5, 2015. It was his fifth suicide attempt in weeks.”

“A copy of the lawsuit obtained by 11Alive News claims the teen “was kept in solitary confinement for days with no exercise, showers or even a functioning toilet“. The lawsuit cites issues with Georgia’s juvenile facilities dating all the way back to 1997. In Jimariya’s case, his family’s attorneys say “rather than address his basic needs, the staff routinely locked him in solitary confinement and neglected to provide him with required exercise, education, and even showers”.

The lawsuit details five suicide attempts leading up to his death including using sheets and strings to hang himself. According to the lawsuit, instead of the required 29 staff members on duty, there were only 18 the morning Jimariya committed suicide.

“That child could very well be alive today if the right thing had been done if there had been staff in place and they had not neglected this child,” Georgia State Senator Vincent Fort told 11Alive News he was outraged at the sequence of events.

“I think it may be time for the feds to intervene again our Governor needs to make this a priority,” Fort said.

A Special Incident Report filed by the Department of Juvenile Justice included witness statements about that night. When asked what the staff could have done differently, one juvenile writes “listen when a youth says something”.

This lawsuit charges the teen’s Constitutional rights were violated in the form of cruel and unusual punishment.  11Alive News contacted the Department of Juvenile Justice to get their response to the lawsuit, but haven’t heard back.”

Federal lawsuit filed after teen dies in custody [11 Alive 1/4/16 by Valerie Hoff and Julie Wolfe]

REFORM Puzzle Piece