Former San Francisco 49ers quarterback and social justice activist Colin Kaepernick has revealed his intentions to cover the costs of an autopsy on a 35-year-old inmate who died under unexplained circumstances.
LaShawn Thompson died inside a cell at the Fulton County Jail in Atlanta in September. The initial autopsy did not reveal Thompson’s cause of death and now Kaepernick is willing to pay for a second autopsy.
According to a TMZ Sports report, Kaepernick contacted legal representatives for the Thompson family to inform them that he would fund an additional autopsy for up to $50,000.
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Free agent quarterback Colin Kaepernick arrives for a workout for NFL scouts and media in Riverdale, Georgia on November 16, 2019. (AP Photo/Todd Kirkland, File)
The family has remained steadfast in their position that the appalling jail conditions contributed directly to Thompson’s death. Thompson’s family recently alleged that bugs and bedbugs ate him alive.
Thompson was placed in the psychiatric unit inside the Fulton County Jail after authorities determined he had mental health issues. About three months later, he died.
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Kaepernick was distraught by reports of the conditions Thompson was subjected to, according to TMZ Sports.
«We want to thank Colin Kaepernick for helping [Thompson’s] family to get to the truth,» attorney Ben Crump said during a news conference on Thursday.
A general view of the Fulton County Jail in Atlanta. (Paras Griffin/Getty Images)
Kaepernick’s representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Fulton County Sheriff Patrick Labat issued a statement following a news conference in which he described Thompson’s death as «inexcusable.»
“The type of infestations that contributed to Mr. Thompson’s death are going to be a recurring problem in a jail where hundreds of detainees don’t have cells and have to sleep on the floor,” Labat said.
The family of Fulton County Jail inmate LaShawn Thompson says he died after allegedly being eaten alive by bugs and bedbugs. (Harper Law Firm)
Last week, attorney Michael Harper announced that the family intends to file a lawsuit after receiving the results of an examination into Thompson’s death.
«As soon as we get the results of that independent autopsy, we’ll come back here and let people know,» Crump said.
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Kaepernick last played in the NFL in 2016. He was the starting quarterback for the 49ers during the team’s run to the Super Bowl in 2013.