Virginia jail pushes back against claims of mistreatment
The family of 24-year-old Jamycheal Mitchell filed $60 million wrongful death lawsuit last month claiming correctional officers at the Hampton Roads regional jail physically abused and withheld food from him.
A medical examiner said Mitchell died of heart failure accompanied by severe weight loss several months after being arrested for stealing $5 worth of junk food.
An attorney for Mitchell's family said in court documents filed earlier this week that several inmates named as witnesses in the wrongful death lawsuit are now being threatened and mistreated by jail officials.