MACON, Ga. — The family of Stephen Fossett wants to know why he died after being tased in the Bibb County jail.
We reported on Fossett's death in May. He was in jail for criminal trespassing charges.
The sheriff's office says he was having a medical emergency, resisted help from the jail's medical staff and deputies, and was tased.
They say the tasing had 'no effect' on his death, but won't release further details. Today, his family held a news conference with their lawyers.
His family has passed around flyers that ask, "What happened to Stephen Fossett?"
13WMAZ spoke with his mother, Paula Platt, after the press conference. She says she wants people like Stephen - those who struggled with mental illness - to be treated fairly in custody.
Attorney Mawuli Davis, with Davis Bozeman Johnson Law firm in Decatur, Georgia, says the family is fighting for justice and wants the sheriff's office to accommodate inmates who have a mental illness. He says it's been over 90 days since Fossett's death and the family deserves transparency.
"There is no reason that this family does not have the answers that they need. They have not been able to fully grieve because they don't know," Davis said.
His sister, Breanna Fossett says there aren't many words to explain what happened to her brother.
"I felt very shocked, very hurt, very sad," Fossett said.
Platt describes her eldest son as someone who was loving, and she says she never saw his death coming. She said she knew he was suffering from chronic schizophrenia and was in a mental health program with the Bibb County Jail.
She says while Stephen was suffering, his family always supported him.
"Of course, schizophrenia has its own symptoms or whatever but [he was] an all-around good person," Platt said.
Platt said her son was "very charismatic, funny and loved to exercise" but wants her son's death to bring awareness.
Davis says the family wants the sheriff's office to find out what happened to Stephen Fossett, and share that with them.
"Every citizen of Georgia, including Mr. Fossett, deserves and should have their rights protected under the ADA when they're having a mental health crisis," Davis said.
We have reached out to the Bibb County Sheriff's Office for comment. They sent us a statement saying:
"This incident is an ongoing investigation, that is why the only information released thus far is the original report. The incident is being investigated intensively as all death investigations are. We will be able to release more information on this incident once the results from the autopsy and toxicology have been completed. Once we have those answers we will be able to update the family on the investigation."
The lawyers and family would like the district attorney to launch an investigation into Stephen's death.