CHARLES QUINCY TROUPE State Representative District 62 January 23, 2002 Gary Kempker, Director
Dear Gary: I am requesting a full investigation of the following incident that was brought to my attention. Approximately 3 weeks ago, a female inmate by the name of Lavenia Populus, #1005817, died screaming on the floor of the infirmary where she was housed at WERDCC in Vandalia. Someone who cleans the infirmary witnessed Inmate Populus' death, and reported that the room looked like a slaughter house, that Ms. Populus has been crying and pleading for help all day, telling them she was in severe pain. It is also reported that a doctor’s answer was to prescribe Maalox. Apparently, Inmate Populus died in a pool of blood, hemorrhaging from every orifice, and there was blood on the walls and what was believed to be human tissue matter mixed with the blood on the floor. It was reported that Inmate Populus had Hepatitis C. Is this a natural end to people who are infected with the Hepatitis C disease, and if this is the case, explain the blood on the walls and the lack of assistance for an obviously pleading and dying woman. Further, not being a medical person, I would like a medical explanation from the doctor as to how Maalox would help the pain from an obviously hemorrhaging person, and if death were imminent, then the humane thing to do would have been to make death as painless as possible. That was supposed to have been the intention of the misguided legislature when they enacted lethal injections as a way of bringing about death. Was Inmate Populus sentenced to death by the state? If not, then I believe that the state has an obligation to use every means necessary to maintain life as long as possible. I await the results of your investigation. Sincerely, CHARLES QUINCY TROUPE State Representative District 62 |
