Intellectually Disabled Inmate at Virginia Prison Allegedly Fatally Beaten, FBI Investigates

Intellectually Disabled Inmate’s Death

According to the U.S. News, the agency has identified the intellectually disabled inmate Givens as “a possible victim of a crime,” according to a document reviewed by The Associated Press on Monday.

Givens had been detained at Marion since pleading guilty to two felonies connected to the fatal 2010 shooting of Misty Leann Garrett, a home health nurse employed by Givens’ mother.

The intellectually disabled inmate Charles Givens, who was serving time for murder lost his life in February 2022 at the Marion Correctional Treatment Center.

An email from an FBI victim specialist addressed to an attorney representing the intellectually disabled inmate’s sister confirmed that the case is currently under investigation.

The email dated Sunday mentioned that due to the nature of the criminal investigation, specific details on its progress could not be disclosed at the time.

Dee Rybiski, an FBI spokeswoman in Richmond refrained from commenting adhering to the agency’s standard practice of not confirming or denying the existence of investigations.

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Intellectually Disabled Inmate’s  Lawsuit

According to the Washington Post, the federal lawsuit filed by Kym Hobbs, Givens’ sister and the plaintiff in the case claims that her brother suffered from “sadistic torture” and physical abuse before being discovered unresponsive at the southwest Virginia facility.

The lawsuit filed by Hobbs alleges that her brother endured regular abuse at the Marion facility before the incident that proved fatal. The suit also raised questions about the overall conditions at the prison, which houses inmates with mental health issues.

According to the lawsuit, the intellectually disabled inmate suffered a traumatic brain injury during childhood, which limited his intellectual and emotional development to that of a second or third-grade child.

The intellectually disabled inmate required assistance and supervision for daily functioning throughout his life. Additionally, the intellectually disabled inmate had Crohn’s disease, which contributed to his vulnerability and made him a target of abuse by correctional officers, according to the lawsuit.

Initially, prison officials informed Hobbs that her brother had died of natural causes, as he had other underlying health conditions and had recently been ill.

However, she later received information from another inmate, who claimed that the intellectually disabled inmate had been beaten. An autopsy report revealed that Givens’ cause of death was blunt force trauma to the torso, but the manner of death remained undetermined.

Four correctional officers named in the lawsuit for allegedly participating in the beating of Givens did not respond to requests for comment. An attorney for a fifth officer, accused of negligence for failing to intervene, also did not respond to inquiries. All five officers have denied the allegations but have not been charged with any crimes.

Kym Hobbs expressed her appreciation for the development, as it marked the first correspondence she received from the FBI concerning her brother’s death. She hopes that the investigation will lead to justice for the intellectually disabled inmate Charles Givens.

The Department of Corrections has yet to respond to questions related to the matter, including recent inquiries about the case.

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