DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — A family is claiming inconsistencies in reports regarding a young Army veteran who died in custody at the DeKalb County Jail.
Christon Collins' mother, Jonia Milburn, stated that her son should have never been in jail after he came back from serving in the Army.
DeKalb County Sheriff's Office deputies said Collins "experienced a medical emergency in his jail cell" on March 13 and was taken to the hospital, where he died two days later.
Milburn said her son had been arrested and hospitalized multiple times after leaving the Army due to mental episodes. At the time of his death, Collins had been in custody at the DeKalb County Jail since February 4 on charges of obstruction of law enforcement and simple battery against police.
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"Never was the same," she said previously. "Never from the very first night he came home he had an episode. He was diagnosed several times with 100% PTSD and schizophrenia."
The family held a news conference on Monday to bring new details to light regarding the death of the 27-year-old Army veteran. The family was joined by several advocate organizations.
Milburn stated that the autopsy from the county, an incident report of the night of her son's death, and surveillance video allegedly given to her by officials are "inconsistent" compared to findings from an independent autopsy.
Milburn also stated that when she got her son's body, his brain and spleen were missing. When Milburn asked why her son's organs were missing, she stated the DeKalb County Medical Examiner's Office told her they had to hold it for a year for further examination.
According to the DeKalb County Medical Examiner's Office website, most families sign a next of kin form to release the bodies to the family and the funeral home of their choice.
Georgia law also states that a coroner or medical examiner can "take possession of any objects, including anatomical specimens," which, in this case, the brain and spleen could be considered as such to help with "establishing a cause of death or manner of death."
"At his or her discretion, the medical examiner or coroner may dispose of such objects, specimens, or articles when the medical examiner’s or coroner’s need for their retention has ended, provided that any property of value shall be returned to the next of kin of the deceased when no longer needed in the investigation or for evidence in a prosecution," Georgia law further states.
However, the mother said that the county's autopsy report stated that her son died due to a "lack of oxygen to the brain and resuscitation due to fentanyl abuse, marijuana and other medications" in his body. It's unclear as to why his organs were not returned with his body.
"I didn't know I never gave consent for them to keep it because I had no idea that they kept it until I received a report from the independent autopsy that we did," she stated.
11Alive requested a copy of the DeKalb County Medical Examiner's Office autopsy report to provide more context but has not heard back from anyone yet.
Photos: Christon Collins
The family also stated Collins had bruises on his body, showing photos to news reporters.
Milburn also stated she saw a video from the night of her son's death, stating there was no security on the floor.
Family members also claimed that documents were falsified, toxicology reports were contradicting, Collins' cause of death was questionable, and the jail failed to provide medication or implement a treatment plan from Grady Hospital.
The DeKalb County Sheriff's Office said it cannot comment on cases that are pending litigation.