(Jan. 17, 2014) My son was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia at the age of 24. He also suffered from anosognosia and often refused treatment, which ultimately sent him through the revolving door of involuntary commitments. But he was always released before he was actually stable so that he could make room for others.
In 2004, in the midst of a psychotic episode, my son called 911. When the police arrived, my son shot and killed two officers because he believed they were aliens. He spent the following three and half years in jail awaiting trial. His first 13 months were spent in semi-isolation on suicide watch.
In the final weeks of his life in prison, he was given psychotropic meds that had heat warnings. While on the medications he was placed in a cell with no air movement and a temperature above 100 degrees. He died less than two weeks after being placed in these conditions. The autopsy also indicated major bruising, most likely from a beating.
In the wake of my son’s death, our county established a 24/7 mental health officer to help respond to people like my son.
My son had had dreams and ambitions, but his mental illness robbed him of both.
MARY
ALABAMA
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