MACON, Ga. — It's been nearly five months since Stephen Fossett died in May after being tased in the Bibb County Jail. On Wednesday, his family and the Macon-Bibb NAACP held a press conference to address questions they still have about how and why he died.
"No one deserves to die for just being incarcerated on a misdemeanor charge, a non-violent charge," Macon-Bibb NAACP President Gwenette Westbrooks said.
Fossett was locked up on criminal trespassing charges. His family said he was schizophrenic and was battling with his mental health.
His family were advised by their lawyers not to talk about the case, but Westbrooks said his death sheds light on a bigger problem of deaths at the Bibb County Jail. After he died, the sheriff's office said he was being treated by medical staff.
The sheriff’s office said Fossett became combative, prompting a deputy to fire their taser to help control the situation. Only a few hours later, Fossett died at the local hospital.
Originally, the sheriff's office only said that Fossett died after suffering a medical emergency, and they said they believed no foul play was involved.
In a follow-up statement the next day, the sheriff's office included new details in Fossett's death. They said Fossett was "behaving strangely" and was taken to medical screening.
It was then that the sheriff's office included the fact that he was tased.
However, according to the statement, they said: "The taser had no effect on the inmate."
This week, the GBI confirmed that his death was a homicide, and they are investigating the case after the sheriff's office and District Attorney Anita Howard asked the GBI to investigate.
Westbrooks said they all just want justice for what happened.
"We're asking for people to be held accountable. We have to hold people accountable because just like he was in here, incarcerated, he was being held accountable," Westbrooks said.
She said herself and the family would like the sheriff's office to release the video of the tasing.
"I say all the time, 'When you go into the prison or jail, you don't know whether you're gonna come out alive.' Because of, everything that's going, going on in the jail," Westbrooks said.
She said she's spoken with the sheriff multiple times, and he told her they won't release the video until the investigation is over by the GBI.
"I know that they're behind, that's why it's so important that the video be released so the family will have some type of ease, some type of answers," Westbrooks said.
The Fossett family are planning to hold a candlelight vigil at the jail at 6:00 p.m. on Oct. 22. They inviting the public to support them.
We did reach out the sheriff's office and Sheriff David Davis released this statement.
“This unfortunate incident continues to be investigated. Our Internal Affairs unit as well as our criminal investigation unit has been working this case since Mr. Fossett passed. We have only recently received all of the toxicology and autopsy results.
In addition to our office investigations, 13WMAZ has asked the GBI to also follow up with an inquiry of their own.
Once all of these investigations are completed, the findings will be turned over to DA Howard for a determination of any criminal charges.