MACON, Ga. – A Georgia Department of Corrections employee is being sued by the family of a man who was fatally stabbed by his cellmate at Macon State Prison in Oglethorpe. The lawsuit alleges that warning signs of danger were ignored, leading to the tragic death of Joseph Walter Brown at the hands of his cellmate, Denarquis Glenn.
Brown, also known as J.B., still had two years remaining on his 20-year sentence when he was killed. The lawsuit filing paints a grim picture of Glenn’s violent tendencies, citing multiple attacks on cellmates prior to the fatal incident involving Brown.
According to the court documents, Glenn had a history of violent behavior after smoking “strips,” a substance described as “paper soaked in insecticide, rampant in Georgia prisons.” The lawsuit alleges that Glenn became unhinged after smoking these strips, leading to extreme and unprovoked violence.
Glenn’s violent nature was well-known, even before his time in Macon State Prison, as he was serving a life sentence without parole for killing two individuals outside of prison. It’s claimed that Glenn violently attacked his cellmates on multiple occasions and had a reputation for extreme outbursts of violence.
The lawsuit also points the finger at Lieutenant Latrice Hatcher, accusing her of disregarding the repeated pleas from both Brown and Glenn to be separated. The family’s legal action comes amidst growing concerns about the conditions within Georgia’s prisons, with ongoing investigations by the U.S. Department of Justice into possible civil rights violations.
Macon State Prison has faced scrutiny in the past, with previous cases leading to similar lawsuits being filed against Hatcher. The tragic death of Brown at the hands of his cellmate has renewed calls to address systemic issues, including gang violence, inhuman conditions, and alleged understaffing in the prison facility.
Despite the family seeking justice in the wake of their loss, the situation raises deeper questions about the responsibility to ensure the safety and well-being of incarcerated individuals. As the legal proceedings unfold, the case serves as a somber reminder of the challenges and concerns within the state’s prison system.