Georgia Jail Staffer Gets Probation for Death of Bedbug-Infested Inmate in Atlanta

Stephanie Cooper, a Fulton County Jail staffer, pleaded guilty to cruelty and neglect charges in the 2022 death of Lashawn Thompson. She received 10 years of probation, no prison time.

Fulton County Jail Staffer Avoids Prison After Inmate Dies of Neglect in Infested Cell

A Fulton County Jail employee will serve no time behind bars following her guilty plea in the 2022 death of inmate Lashawn Thompson, who was found dead in a filthy, pest-ridden cell in the facility's mental health unit. Law & Crime reports that Stephanie Cooper was sentenced Monday to 10 years of probation after entering a negotiated plea under Georgia's First Offender Act.

Cooper was convicted on four counts: depriving essential services, cruelty to inmates, and two violations of the oath of office. The conviction, according to local ABC affiliate WSB, was directly tied to Thompson's death.

Inmate Found Slumped Over, Covered in Insects

Thompson, a homeless man with schizophrenia, had been held at the Atlanta jail for three months following his arrest on allegations that he spat at a Georgia Tech police officer. He was found slumped over with his head resting on a toilet, malnourished and infested with what the medical examiner described as an "enormous presence of body lice." Images released after his death showed insects covering his face, mouth and torso.

The medical examiner concluded Thompson was "neglected to death." His family described him as having been "eaten alive by bedbugs."

Justice Department: A Pattern of Unconstitutional Conditions

Thompson's death was not an isolated incident. A U.S. Justice Department investigation and report released in 2024 found that inmates at the Fulton County Jail had been subjected to unconstitutional, inhumane and violent conditions — including homicides, stabbings, sexual abuse, pest infestation and malnourishment. Authorities said those conditions violated the Eighth and 14th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution, the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

In a November 2024 press release, then-Attorney General Merrick Garland described Thompson's death as symptomatic of a broader pattern. "The unconstitutional and unlawful conditions at the Fulton County Jail have persisted for far too long," Garland said. "We are committed to working with Fulton County and the Fulton County Sheriff's Office to remedy them."

Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division went further. "Detention in the Fulton County Jail has amounted to a death sentence for dozens of people who have been murdered or who died as a result of the atrocious conditions inside the facility," Clarke said. "It's not just adults but also children who are subjected to conditions and treatment that violate the Constitution and defy federal law."

Stabbings, Suicides and Deaths in Custody

The DOJ report documented a facility holding approximately 2,000 inmates awaiting trial or court hearings, with a "significant portion" of the population carrying an identified mental illness. From 2022 onward, six inmates died in acts of violence inside the jail. In 2023 alone, more than 300 stabbings were recorded, linked to uncontrolled contraband and makeshift weapons. Four inmates have died by suicide over the past four years.

The report also detailed other fatalities in the mental health unit within less than a year. One involved a homeless man arrested for breaking into a building seeking shelter and warmth; he stopped taking his medications, his health deteriorated, and he was found unresponsive following a likely seizure. He died in hospice a month later.

After Thompson's death, two additional inmates in the same unit were killed by their cellmates. Both victims had their feet bound. One was wrapped in bedding "like a mummy," according to the DOJ.

Physical Conditions and Use of Force Also Flagged

Federal authorities opened a civil rights investigation into the jail in July 2023. Within weeks of launching that inquiry, six more inmates died inside the facility.

"Poor supervision, poor classification practices, and inattention to the maintenance of the jail are major contributors to the unacceptable violence," the DOJ report stated.

Investigators also found that deputies and detention officers used force — including Tasers — without adequate justification. Physical conditions cited in the report included standing water in living areas, exposed wiring, pest infestations, and deficient access to clean clothing and bedding. Jailers were also found to have placed inmates in restrictive housing for extended periods without sufficient due process protections.

Source: Law & Crime