A federal lawsuit has been filed by the family of Brandon Dotson, an Alabama inmate who was found dead in his bed at Ventress Correctional Facility in Clayton. The lawsuit alleges that Dotson's heart had been removed before his body was returned to his family, and they are still awaiting answers regarding his cause of death. The lawsuit, filed on December 7th in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, accuses the facility of mistreating Dotson's body and causing unnecessary emotional distress to the family.

Dotson, 43, had been serving a 99-year sentence for a burglary offense. The warden of the prison called Dotson's brother on the evening of November 16th to inform him of his death. The family requested that the body be released to them, but were informed by the warden that an autopsy needed to be completed by the Alabama Department of Corrections. When the family received the body on November 21st, they immediately noticed concerns. The lawsuit alleges that a pathologist hired by the family to conduct a second autopsy discovered that Dotson's heart had been removed from his body. The body was described as being severely decomposed with an overwhelming stench.

The family also observed bruising on the back of Dotson's neck and excessive swelling across his head, leading them to believe that the body had been improperly stored while in the possession of the state. Due to the condition of the body, the family was unable to have an open casket funeral as originally planned. In the days leading up to his death, Dotson had been asking for help and had been targeted by another inmate. The suit accuses staff of ignoring his pleas and states that he was housed in an area that was understaffed and overcrowded.

The lawsuit names several defendants, including the Alabama Department of Corrections, the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences, the University of Alabama System, and the University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink Medical School. The family alleges that the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine is a possible intended recipient of Dotson's heart, as the school receives specimens from autopsies conducted by the Department of Corrections for educational purposes. The family is seeking the immediate return of Dotson's heart and answers regarding his death.

Dotson's family has also claimed that his body was delivered in such a severely decomposed state that they were forced to hold a closed casket funeral. They had spent five days attempting to claim the body after his death and observed bruising and swelling when it finally arrived. Seeking answers, the family hired a pathologist to conduct a second autopsy, which revealed that the heart was missing from Dotson's chest cavity. The family remains uncertain about the whereabouts of the heart and the exact cause and timing of Dotson's death.

Dotson had served 19 years of his 99-year sentence for a burglary conviction and a parole violation. The family alleges that the misconduct of prison staff was equivalent to a death sentence. The lawsuit includes claims of constitutional violations, indifference to medical needs and safety, deliberate indifference cover-up, interference with burial rights, mishandling of a corpse, emotional distress, failure to notify next of kin, and wrongful death. Dotson had reportedly expressed concerns about his safety to prison staff prior to his death, but was moved to a general population area where he had access to drugs and was vulnerable to attacks. The family claims that prison staff had numerous opportunities to prevent his death but failed to do so.

The lawsuit seeks the return of Dotson's heart, a jury trial, and an injunction against the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences and the Alabama Department of Corrections. The family accuses the defendants of halting the constitutional violations that occurred in the prison, ensuring the timely delivery of Dotson's body, and notifying the family of the missing heart. The family's attorney, Lauren Faraino, stated that they are fighting to get answers about Dotson's death and the missing heart, and that the responsibility lies with the state to ensure the safety of those in its prisons.

The Alabama Department of Corrections and Faraino have not yet provided comment on the lawsuit. The family's attorney emphasized that the ADOC failed to keep Dotson safe, as well as numerous other individuals throughout the year. Dotson's parole status is unclear, and it is unknown if he was notified prior to his death.