MIM Notes No. 197	 December 1, 1999

TDCJ responsible for inmate deaths

On August 3, 1999. At 9:30 PM. Inmate David Osborn, TDCJ ID# 700935 died 
of an asthma attack which lead to a cardiac arrest. Brother Osborn was a 
known asthmatic amongst his peers. This specific day eye witnesses who 
will only talk to the media have stated the following:

Brother Osborn had been complaining to the prison pigs about his 
problem. He was observed by the prison pigs to be in respiratory 
distress. After being denied help at the desk, Brother Osborn collapsed 
and went into a heart attack. One fellow female officer made an attempt 
to perform C.P.R. and shouted to her peers to assist or the inmate 
(Osborn) would die. Her peers told her that he was just an inmate and 
that they will not assist or perform C.P.R. on him. They told the female 
officer to back off. Slowly and reluctantly the female officer did as 
she was ordered and backed off.

Another Comrade witnessed this from the recreation yard:  After medical 
was finally called, they intentionally took their time getting to the 
inmate (Osborn). The medical response team of nurses and other medical 
personnel were observed making stops to chit chat with the prison pigs 
posted in the hallway. When they finally arrived they had trouble 
getting inmate Osborn on the gurney. A Lt. and 2 inmates had to assist 
them. Inmate Osborn's eyes had rolled back in signal of his death. Still 
for the sake of the camera that finally arrived they performed C.P.R., 
knowing this man was dead.

Brother Osborn's death would never had happened if officers did not fail 
to render serious medical help. In many examples throughout this Unit, 
officers, including sergeants on the 2nd shift and now on the 1st shift, 
have an "I don't care" attitude when an inmate brings a problem to them.

To further the evil done by this unit, Internal Affairs Department made 
an attempt to downplay the death of Osborn by having ready made 
statements for the inmate witnesses to sign. Two inmates refused to sign 
statements prepared by I.A.D. for obvious reasons. I.A.D. interviewer 
became angry and disregarded and eliminated the witnesses for being 
uncooperative. In other words, the inmates wanted to tell the complete 
truth of this matter and not a watered down version to keep the Terrell 
Unit out of hot water. This is why they won't talk to no one but outside 
sources.

This same incident rings of similarity to the death of another inmate, 
Reginald Lavergnes, who was said to have died of respiratory infection. 
In reality, he had bruises all over his body where prison officials had 
beaten him. What did they do? They lied about the cause of death and 
then withheld evidence that could have proved differently. They made it 
obvious when the prison examiner refused to give up the body parts to 
Brother Lavergnes' family. MIM, I am asking for your help in this 
matter. I felt the death of brother Osborn because I am a steroid 
dependent asthmatic. I know how Osborn suffered. Don't turn your back.

In Struggle,

-- a Texas prisoner