Yet another incarcerated individual has died in state custody this month, according to a statement from the Alabama Department of Corrections obtained by APR.
On March. 4, Bunyan Goodwin, Jr, a 51-year-old incarcerated man at Bibb County Correctional Facility, reported to correctional staff that he was having difficulty breathing and was later transported to the health unit for evaluation and treatment, according to an ADOC spokesperson. While there, his condition deteriorated, and he “became unresponsive,” the spokesperson said.
“Life-saving measures were administered but medical staff was unable to resuscitate him, and he was pronounced deceased by the attending physician,” The spokesperson said.
As with all deaths in state custody, the Law Enforcement Services Division of the ADOC is investigating the events surrounding Goodwin’s death. The cause of death is pending the conclusion of that investigation and the results of a full autopsy.
Two other incarcerated men would be reported dead on the same day as Goodwin.
Bobby Ray Bradley, a 69-year-old incarcerated man at Donaldson Correctional Facility, was pronounced dead that Friday after a long bout with illness, according to the Jefferson County Coroner’s office. He had been found unresponsive on his bed earlier the same day.
Also that Friday, Joshua Strickland, a 40-year-old incarcerated man at Bullock Correctional Facility, was found unresponsive in his cell and transported immediately to the health care unit within the facility, according to an ADOC spokesperson at the time. Medical staff attempted to resuscitate Strickland, who remained unresponsive. He was later pronounced dead that same day.
A source within the Alabama correctional system with knowledge of the incident involving Strickland said that he died in his sleep. This has yet to be confirmed by the ADOC.
The total number of fatalities among the state’s incarcerated population in March is now six, with 13 individuals confirmed dead in ADOC facilities in February, according to previous statements from the ADOC.
