JONESBORO, Ga. — The family of a man killed inside the Clayton County Jail said they are heartbroken over the loss. Johnathan Pettigrew's family reached out to 11Alive asking for help in getting answers about what happened.
“He’s always been the one that I looked to the most -- the closest to with the bond. So, this loss right here is very tragic for me," said Michael Pettigrew.
Michael Pettigrew said his brother, Johnathan, had been in the jail for nearly two years and was due to be released in just a few days.
“My mom is talking with attorneys right now. We're doing everything we can. This interview is just to get his voice out out," he said.
During an exclusive interview with 11Alive, Clayton County Sheriff Levon Allen said Johnathan had been placed with a new cellmate Thursday. It appears the cellmate attacked Johnathan after coming into the room upset.
His brother said that doesn’t add up.
“We get to the hospital and the chaplain tells us that he was actually responsive. He alert when he got to the hospital and that he was shocked that my brother died," he said.
(This story continues below the gallery.)
This is the second homicide at the jail in less than two months. Community activist Meia Ballinger said Clayton County officials need to do better.
“Some of these correction officers are not getting paid their due diligence, so that’s one issue. So they're short staffed. A lot of people don’t want to put themselves in harm’s way for what they call pennies," said Ballinger.
11Alive has reported before on overcrowding problems at the jail and the sheriff's concern's about staffing. It's not clear if staffing levels were an issue Thursday, but what is clear for Johnathan's brother is that his life ended too soon.
“The hardest part about today is knowing that the hopes I had for my brother to come out. Seeing him 30, 35 married, children -- things that I know he desired to have. I just know that those things won’t happen," Pettigrew said.
Sheriff Allen said Abdul Woodward, 43, has been in the jail for less than 30 days on baggage removal charges. Woodward now faces charges of felony murder, aggravated assault, and simple battery in connection with his cellmate's death.