The household of former NFL participant Stanley Wilson Jr., who died final month whereas in Los Angeles County custody after a current arrest, stated the 40-year-old’s loss of life was a results of “extreme pressure” and “deliberate indifference.”
His dad and mom stated they discovered Wilson’s physique with “ligature marks” on his wrists and “recent wounds” on his head that appeared “to have been brought on by a shoe,” in line with a declare filed this week that seeks $45 million in damages from the county. Wilson’s father is Stanley Wilson Sr., a former NFL operating again.
An official reason behind loss of life has not been made public, however the dad and mom stated the county “grossly misrepresented the trigger and circumstances” of their son’s loss of life, in line with the declare.
“The county didn’t implement and preserve correct procedures to interact mentally disabled people, together with Stanley Wilson Jr.,” the declare stated.
Wilson had just lately been deemed incompetent to face trial after an August 2022 arrest on trespassing-related prices, in line with the declare. For a while, Wilson has struggled with psychological well being points and drug use, stated John Carpenter, the household’s legal professional.
Wilson “suffered many many traumatic head accidents” and had lately been exhibiting the signs of power traumatic encephalopathy, a mind situation that researchers have discovered to be extraordinarily prevalent amongst former NFL soccer gamers, Carpenter stated. Wilson had been beforehand arrested in Portland, Ore., after an try and burglarize a mansion whereas bare.
“That’s how we deal with our folks with psychological sickness, we incarcerate them or we allow them to stay on the streets with none help,” Carpenter stated, calling Wilson’s a very tragic story. “He had all of the promise on the planet, and he ended up like this.”
In 2014, Wilson had graduated from Stanford, the place he performed soccer from 2001 to 2004. The cornerback was drafted within the third spherical by the Detroit Lions in 2005. His skilled soccer profession ended three years later after he tore his Achilles tendon.
Some information retailers reported that Wilson died final month, citing legislation enforcement sources that he collapsed whereas being transferred from the county’s Twin Towers Correctional Facility in downtown Los Angeles to the Metropolitan State Hospital in Norwalk, which supplies care to folks dominated incompetent to face trial.
However Carpenter stated the night time earlier than Wilson’s loss of life, a nurse had accomplished a medical analysis and located no points. Carpenter stated the household plans to file a wrongful-death lawsuit “to get to the reality of what truly occurred.”
“It simply doesn’t make any sense that he could be lifeless the subsequent morning,” Carpenter stated.
L.A. County spokesperson Jesus Ruiz declined to remark on the case, citing the pending litigation.
“L.A. County presents its honest condolences to Mr. Wilson’s household,” Ruiz stated in an announcement. The Los Angeles County coroner’s workplace didn’t instantly reply to questions concerning the case of the standing of Wilson’s post-mortem.
The county has 45 days to answer the household’s declare — filed on behalf of Wilson’s father; mom, Pulane Lucas; and his property — at which level the household can file the lawsuit.
Carpenter stated Wilson’s dad and mom reached out to him a couple of lawsuit after discovering their son’s physique in a “situation that was totally different than they anticipated it to be.”
“It’s simple to marginalize folks and write off folks with psychological sickness,” he stated. “They’re handled with indifference, and we imagine that performed a think about Stanley’s loss of life.”
