The family of Stanley Wilson Jr. — a former cornerback who died of a pulmonary embolism while in custody — is suing the County of Los Angeles again after they say authorities failed to properly report his death.
According to the filing, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and the County of Los Angeles “have refused to investigate the facts and circumstances of Stanley Wilson Jr.’s death.” death during detention, which is required by law.’
Lawyers for the family claim that the state hospital where Wilson died has refused to conduct an initial death report or a mortality investigation. The filing says any death of an inmate would trigger these investigations.
Additionally, the videos of Wilson’s treatment have not been released — and remain in the possession of the county and sheriff’s department.
The family claims Wilson’s death was caused by unconstitutional and excessive force used against him while in custody. But an autopsy determined that a pulmonary thromboembolism, a blood clot that blocks blood flow to an artery in the lungs, was the cause of death.
The family of Stanley Wilson Jr. says the county failed to properly report their son’s death at Metropolitan State Hospital on Feb. 1 of this year
The ex-Detroit Lions cornerback (R) died of a pulmonary thromboembolism, an autopsy shows
The same report found “red abrasions” on Wilson’s “forehead, right hand and right knee,” but the autopsy says these were “superficial.”
The attorney representing the family, John C Carpenter, claimed at a press conference in March that photos indicate Wilson Jr. was the victim of excessive force at the hands of law enforcement in LA before dying on February 1.
Carpenter claimed that photos showed marks on Wilson’s wrists and that wounds on his head appeared to indicate he was kicked or stomped.
The claim filed at the time alleged that “Wilson Jr.’s body had other physical injuries, indicating that he did not merely ‘collapse’ at Metropolitan State Hospital as has been widely and misleadingly reported.”
It added that representatives from Metropolitan State Hospital have said they have no record of Wilson Jr. ever been to their institution during his lifetime.
Wilson Jr.’s grieving mother, Dr. D. Pulane Lucas, said provincial officials told her her son had collapsed and fallen from a chair during the admission process to Metropolitan State Hospital before he died.
However, Carpenter claimed the photos were “a stark contrast to what we’ve heard.”
The attorney filed three lawsuits against LA County earlier this year, one on behalf of Wilson Jr.’s mother, one on behalf of his father, former NFL running back Stanley Wilson Sr., and one on behalf of his estate, seeking damages in excess of $ 45 demanded. million.
Attorney John C Carpenter (second right) said photos indicate Wilson Jr. was the victim of excessive force by law enforcement before his death (photos from March 2023)
Wilson Jr.’s father, former running back Stanley Wilson Sr., said the family ‘just wants the truth’
“The County grossly misrepresented the cause and circumstances of Stanley Wilson Jr.’s death,” Carpenter said in court filings.
“We just want the truth,” said Wilson Jr.’s father, Wilson Sr. at the time. “It hurts a lot to bury your child.”
He went on to describe his son as a gentle, humble, fun, loving and charismatic man who attended Stanford University, but the family said he suddenly became less sociable, more withdrawn, anxious and depressed.
Last year, Wilson Jr. charged with two felony counts of vandalism and one count of second-degree burglary after breaking into a Hollywood Hills mansion on two separate occasions, most recently by taking a bath in an outdoor fountain after moving and damaging items in the yard. home on August 24.
His alleged outdoor bath was said to have caused $5,000 in damage, and Wilson was arrested on both occasions.
After serving time in prison, Wilson was deemed unfit to stand trial and as such was transferred to the mental institution on February 1, where he died the same day.
In 2016, Wilson was shot by a homeowner while trying to break into a home in Portland while naked. He was also arrested for that incident.
The former Detroit Lion poses for a mugshot in 2017 after being arrested for alleged burglary
Wilson Jr. was drafted by the Lions in the third round of the 2005 NFL Draft – 72nd overall
Stanley Wilson attended Stanford prior to his NFL career and played for the Cardinal in 2001-2004
The following year he committed another burglary while naked and was taken into custody again.
Wilson was taken in the third round of the 2005 NFL Draft by the Lions and played only three seasons.
He suffered a career-ending Achilles tendon injury in 2008 against New England in an exhibition game prior to the start of the regular season.
Over his career, Wilson played 32 games, starting nine of which he recorded one forced fumble, and made 89 tackles – 64 of which were solo.
Before being drafted by the Lions, Wilson was a college star at Stanford. He enrolled at the prestigious Northern California school in 2000 and played for the Cardinal football team from 2001 to 2004.
He was the son of ex-Cincinnati Bengals running back Stanley Wilson Sr., who played intermittently for the Ohio franchise in 1983-84, 1986 and 1988.
Stanley Wilson Jr. (L) prepares to receive the ball from his father Stanley Wilson Sr. in the nineties
Stanley Wilson played a pivotal role in the Cincinnati Bengals’ run to Super Bowl XXIII in 1989
He was suspended from the Super Bowl after being caught with cocaine by a position coach
Wilson Sr. was infamously caught with cocaine on the eve of the 1989 Super Bowl XXIII by Bengals position coach Jim Anderson.
He was suspended for the game, in which Cincinnati ultimately lost, and never played in the league again.
He was previously suspended for the entire 1985 and 1987 seasons after violating the NFL’s drug policy.
As a result, Wilson Sr.’s indiscretion meant. in the Super Bowl that he was banned for life, as it was his third drug offense. In 1999, he was sentenced to 22 years in prison for stealing from a Beverly Hills home.