Former 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick Pays Autopsy Bill For Inmate Who Was Found Dead Under Mysterious Circumstances

Former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick is reportedly covering the costs of an autopsy for a 35-year-old inmate who died under suspicious circumstances in a Fulton County Jail cell.

In September, LaShawn Thompson passed away inside a Fulton County Jail cell in Atlanta, Georgia. A medical examiner did not determine his cause of death, despite the fact his family said he appeared to have bug bites all over his body. His jail cell conditions were also described as filthy and unlivable.

Considering the suspicious nature of his death, the Thompson family are further investigating what occurred in Fulton County Jail last year. As an aspect of the investigation, another autopsy is needed in order to determine the inmate’s cause of death. And, the former San Francisco player said he is willing to pay the cost of a second examination.

According to a report from TMZ Sports, Kaepernick contacted the family’s legal representative and put forward up to $50,000 in order to fund an autopsy.

Thompson’s family attorney thanks Colin Kaepernick for financing an independent autopsy

The family’s attorney, Ben Crump, announced in a statement that Kaepernick was in contact with the family in order to set up the transaction. “We want to thank Colin Kaepernick for helping [Thompson’s] family get to the truth,” he said in a news conference. Additionally, Crump said the family plans to launch a lawsuit after the results of the autopsy come back. He shared, “As soon as we get the results of that independent autopsy, we’re going to come right back here and let people know.”

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Brad McCrae, younger brother of Thompson, also told ABC News that it’s important for the public to understand how his brother died in order to spark change throughout the system. “We didn’t want our brother to be shown to the public like this, but the public need to see,” he stated. “Everybody needs to see. Everybody needs to wake up and somebody needs to be held accountable.”

While Kaepernick’s funds are essential for determining a cause of death, Fulton County Sheriff Patrick Labat has already publicly admitted that the cell conditions in which Thompson lived were “inexcusable.”

“The type of infestations that contributed to Mr. Thompson’s death are going to be a recurring problem in a jail where hundreds of detainees do not have cells and have to sleep on the floor,” the sheriff relayed during a press conference.