For his life family of Alabama inmate fears, alleges neglect by prison officials

by Sara Floyd Hello

On Sunday, they said he was unable to walk, had lost a significant amount of weight and was almost unrecognizable when twins Kassie and Kascie Vaughan visited their brother at the Staton Correctional Facility in Elmore, Alabama.

In 2019 the family of 32-year-old Kastellio Vaughan, who was convicted on burglary and break-in charges, now fears for his life, saying the Alabama Department of Corrections is neglecting his health.

“He’s looking terrible. Just one word, terrible. He’s feeling weak in spirit. Kascie Vaughan told a reporter “he’s really just, he’s really feeling low”. “He doesn’t look like Kastellio, the brother that we know.”

Earlier this month along with a message to get him help Kassie Vaughan told a reporter that she received harrowing photos of her older brother.

With a large, undressed wound extending down his abdominal area were allegedly sent by an unidentified inmate at Elmore Correctional Center and Photos depicting Kastellio Vaughan slumped over, emaciated.

“He said, ‘Your brother’s not gonna make it until Monday. Please get him help”. Kassie Vaughan told a reporter that they brought him back to the general population at the prison, they didn’t cover up his wounds, and the staples were bursting out of his abdomen”.

After being released to Elmore’s general population he saw Kastellio Vaughan vomiting and in a weakened state on Aug. 30 the inmate who sent the photos claimed.

Due to complications from an old gunshot wound according to his sisters, that was the same day Kastellio Vaughan had surgery to remove part of his small intestine.

Until receiving the photos they allege they were unaware their brother underwent a procedure.

According to the Alabama Department of Corrections, Kastellio Vaughan was transferred to Staton Correctional Facility’s Medical Observation Unit last Friday.

After his transfer to Staton Correctional Prison officials said Kastellio Vaughan had been in touch with his family and was observed walking and eating.

The department said in a statement about Vaughan’s condition on Friday, that “He has been in contact with his family to update them on his situation and ease their concerns,”

At least 11 times between July 30, 2022 “Inmate Vaughan has requested and received medical attention with the ADOC, and September 22, 2022. As a result each time he received appropriate medical treatment and/or care”t.

The ADOC offers constitutional level care; its statement continued “To all inmates”. “However, just as citizens in the civilian world are afforded the choice of whether to receive care, inmates are not required to undergo care.”

The Vaughan’s said their brother’s appearance and condition have not appeared to improve “at all” since the photos were taken, following their visit on Sunday.

To walk he was using a wheelchair while they were at the facility, They also said. The sisters said another inmate has to help change or he’s forced to try and do it by himself which he also now has to use absorbent briefs.

To bring attention to his deteriorating health Kassie Vaughan said she shared these photos of her brother on Facebook last week.

It really hurts but it was better because we knew that his health was OK Kascie Vaughan said “Even after being incarcerated and us being away from him”. “After his health declined we really just felt like we were kind of losing our big brother.

Like, we don’t have any hope. Now we feel like we are trying to protect him and he’s always protected us”. This is a case of medical neglect that points to larger issues in the prison system Lee Merritt, Harry Daniels, and Ben Crump, Civil rights attorneys who are now representing Vaughan. In less than a month Kastellio Vaughan’s legal team alleges he’s lost 75 pounds.

Crump said in a statement on Sunday “This is horrific”. “To deflect any action or responsibility for Mr. Vaughan’s condition at every turn the state of Alabama has tried to be clear.

About the neglect and Mr. Vaughan would have died before the public knew anything was happening if it wasn’t for these pictures, the media spotlight and the resulting uproar, we might never have known.”

Merritt told a reporter, Kastellio Vaughan’s legal team and family “are still deeply concerned about his safety in that prison”. To receive a professional medical evaluation, treatment and appropriate accommodations to restore his health he said they are now pushing for Vaughan.

“It should have been the medical staff who are responsible for the health and safety of everyone who is under their care but it shouldn’t have been prisoners sending emergency text messages and photographs to his families” Merritt said.

“It is not as if Mr. Kastellio could have gone to see a doctor himself or scheduled an appointment. To provide for their prisoners’ wellbeing he is an inmate at that prison and the law requires that they honour their duty.”

Source:- https://newsmktcap.com/for-his-life-family-of-alabama-inmate-fears-alleges-neglect-by-prison-officials/