According to the lawsuit, the 38-year-old inmate reported his symptoms to the prison staff at least 12 times. The mother also said that her son told her that the prison staff were not doing anything for him. The 38-year-old man didn’t get appropriate medical treatment. Instead, he was given over-the-counter medication. The man’s condition deteriorated and other inmates helped him to the medical unit because he could not walk. Unfortunately, it took prison staff 24 hours to decide he needed to go to the emergency room. He never made it to the emergency room and died at the prison. An autopsy later revealed that he died of gallstones, a common and often treatable ailment.
The mother from Virginia, Sharon Dallas, says her 38-year-old son, Charles Duynes, was convicted of second-degree murder after 22-year-old Christopher Wilson was shot at a party in 2010. Duynes was reportedly sentenced to 42 years in prison for the crime, 10 On Your Side reports.
According to the lawsuit, one day he told his mother that he was having severe stomach aches. Unfortunately, as time went on, his symptoms got worse.
During an interview with 10 On Your Side, Sharon Dallas reportedly said: “It got to the point where, ‘Mama, I feel like something popped in me. Mama, I’m having to lay on the cement. I’m not in my bunk. I’m laying on the floor.’ So, when you tell me now, as a mother, that you’re laying on the floor, I know that you’re having a temperature. You’re in pain and you’re trying to relieve it.”
According to the lawsuit, the 38-year-old man reported his symptoms to the prison staff at least 12 times between October 2018 and June 2019. The mother also said that her son told her that the prison staff were not doing anything for him. “They’re not helping me. You’re whining too much.” he reportedly said.
The mother also called the prison and asked the employees to help her son. Unfortunately, the young man didn’t get appropriate medical treatment. Instead, he was given over-the-counter medication, the lawsuit claims.
Sharon Dallas also told 10 On Your Side: “I’m calling, I’m calling, I’m calling the jail. As soon as he calls and says, ‘I have a stomachache. I’m in pain. I’m hurting,’ I’m calling immediately. Charles Duynes. Give him his number. Can you please check on him? He says he’s in pain. Can you please check on him?”
According to the lawsuit, the man’s condition deteriorated until June 1, 2019, when other inmates helped him to the medical unit because he could not walk and was vomiting blood. The man reportedly begged to go to the hospital. Unfortunately, it took prison staff 24 hours to decide he needed to go to the emergency room.
Unfortunately, the young man never made it to the emergency room. The 38-year-old died at the prison. An autopsy later revealed that Duynes died of gallstones, he lawsuit states.
Dallas’ attorney, Kate Lennon, released the following statement: “The more we’ve gotten into this, the more we realize these cases are happening across the board. The jails and the prisons have a duty to provide that care, and they’re just instead taking it upon themselves to basically give these individuals a death sentence while they’re incarcerated.”
According to the lawsuit, the unfortunate mother is now asking a federal judge to award her $15 million as a result of her son’s death. Dallas also hopes the lawsuit will prevent another mother from losing her child.
“My son might not be the only one from that prison, but I know my son could have been taken care of. He could be alive today.” the mother told WAVY