A six-year investigation exposing America’s deadliest prison system.

In 2019, we began investigating unexplained and unreported deaths in Alabama's state prison system.
We soon learned about Steven Davis—a 35-year old man who was killed 
at Donaldson Correctional Facility.
Steven’s mother was committed to seeking the truth about what happened to her son.
The Alabama Solution documents the investigation that followed, raising troubling questions about corruption and a possible cover-up.
But Steven was only one of more than 1300 people who died in state custody since we began our research.
But Steven was only one of more than 1300 people who died in state custody since we began our research.
And during that time, the rate of deaths in ADOC more than doubled.
While some deaths remain under investigation, we have so far confirmed that more than 470 people died from preventable causes—including suicide, drugs, violence, officer brutality, and other avoidable circumstances.
But, uncovering why so many people are dying proved incredibly difficult.
The Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) releases limited details on deaths, and their response to requests for information is often incomplete and sometimes incorrect.
This secrecy denies families accountability, while keeping the public in the dark about what’s happening inside taxpayer-funded institutions.
This secrecy denies families accountability, while keeping the public in the dark about what’s happening inside taxpayer-funded institutions.
The truth is, people are dying in Alabama’s prisons from complex and horrifying circumstances, but if we rely only on the prison’s statistical reports, causes of death are reduced to one word, like “accident” or “undetermined.”
Examination findings report noting evidence of asphyxia. Decedent found with head and left upper extremity wedged in the tray door of a jail cell, with pressure marks on the neck, scalp, and chest, and abrasions on the cheek and scalp. No significant natural pathology observed. Cause of death listed as mechanical asphyxia; manner of death listed as accident. Signed by Daniel W. Dye, M.D., Associate Coroner/Medical Examiner, dated July 22, 2021.
Medical examiner’s statement declaring that, based on the circumstances surrounding death and autopsy findings, Mr. Jason Matthew Kirkland died as a result of mechanical asphyxia. The manner of death is classified as accident for statistical purposes. Signed by Daniel W. Dye, M.D., Associate Coroner/Medical Examiner, dated July 22, 2021.
Source: Jason Kirkland's autopsy
Jason Kirkland
1993–2021
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Jason Kirkland’s death is categorized as an accident.
Further investigation revealed he suffocated to death when his head and arm became wedged in the tray slot on his cell door.
Examination findings report noting evidence of asphyxia. Decedent found with head and left upper extremity wedged in the tray door of a jail cell, with pressure marks on the neck, scalp, and chest, and abrasions on the cheek and scalp. No significant natural pathology observed. Cause of death listed as mechanical asphyxia; manner of death listed as accident. Signed by Daniel W. Dye, M.D., Associate Coroner/Medical Examiner, dated July 22, 2021.
Source: Jason Kirkland's autopsy
His family never learned anything about how it happened, but suspected that Jason was trying to get the attention of officers when he became trapped.
Medical examiner’s statement declaring that, based on the circumstances surrounding death and autopsy findings, Mr. Jason Matthew Kirkland died as a result of mechanical asphyxia. The manner of death is classified as accident for statistical purposes. Signed by Daniel W. Dye, M.D., Associate Coroner/Medical Examiner, dated July 22, 2021.
Source: Jason Kirkland's autopsy
Medical examiner’s report listing cause of death as complications of blunt and sharp force injuries with methamphetamine use. Manner of death is listed as undetermined. Signed by Daniel S. Atherton, M.D., Associate Coroner/Medical Examiner, dated August 12, 2020.
Case summary for Darnell Joseph McMillian, a 38-year-old male inmate at William Donaldson Correctional Facility. Report states he was in an altercation with another inmate, during which Sabre Red pepper spray was used to break up the fight, and Mr. McMillian died shortly thereafter. Prior to the altercation, he had cut his own forearms with a sharp object.
Source: Darnell McMillan’s autopsy
Darnell McMillian
1982–2020
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Darnell McMillan’s death was classified as “undetermined”.
But we learned Darnell died after officers put him in a solitary confinement cell with another man. Both were on suicide watch, and Darnell had meth in his system.
Medical examiner’s report listing cause of death as complications of blunt and sharp force injuries with methamphetamine use. Manner of death is listed as undetermined. Signed by Daniel S. Atherton, M.D., Associate Coroner/Medical Examiner, dated August 12, 2020.
Source: Darnell McMillan’s autopsy
A fight between the two men broke out, and officers sprayed them with a chemical agent. Darnell began gasping for breath and died a short time later.
Case summary for Darnell Joseph McMillian, a 38-year-old male inmate at William Donaldson Correctional Facility. Report states he was in an altercation with another inmate, during which Sabre Red pepper spray was used to break up the fight, and Mr. McMillian died shortly thereafter. Prior to the altercation, he had cut his own forearms with a sharp object.
Source: Darnell McMillan’s autopsy
Autopsy findings report noting evidence of hyperthermia. Decedent was reportedly in a cell with a temperature of 101–104°F; body core temperature measured at 109°F in the infirmary. Cause of death listed as hyperthermia; manner of death listed as accident. Signed by Gregory G. Davis, M.D., Chief Coroner/Medical Examiner, dated December 28, 2020.
Report citing Investigator Hopper’s account of a decedent found sitting near the window of his cell with head and face positioned outward, believed to be attempting to breathe or obtain cooler air. The cell temperature was approximately 101–104°F, and the decedent’s body core temperature was 109°F. Investigator Hopper noted no signs of foul play regarding the person or prison cell. He reported that once the heat is on, cell temperatures cannot be adjusted; inmates in the mental health ward remain in their cells to eat and bathe, with only limited access to a day room outside the cells.
Source: Tommy Rutledge’s autopsy
Tommy Rutledge
1976–2020
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The prison called Tommy Rutledge’s death an accident.
We obtained his autopsy report which showed Tommy was literally baked to death in an overheated cell. He died of hyperthermia, his face pressed to the window as he tried to breath in cool air.
Autopsy findings report noting evidence of hyperthermia. Decedent was reportedly in a cell with a temperature of 101–104°F; body core temperature measured at 109°F in the infirmary. Cause of death listed as hyperthermia; manner of death listed as accident. Signed by Gregory G. Davis, M.D., Chief Coroner/Medical Examiner, dated December 28, 2020.
Source: Tommy Rutledge’s autopsy
This happened during the winter, and the prison’s heating system pumped excessive hot air into his cell, bringing his body temperature to 109 degrees.
Report citing Investigator Hopper’s account of a decedent found sitting near the window of his cell with head and face positioned outward, believed to be attempting to breathe or obtain cooler air. The cell temperature was approximately 101–104°F, and the decedent’s body core temperature was 109°F. Investigator Hopper noted no signs of foul play regarding the person or prison cell. He reported that once the heat is on, cell temperatures cannot be adjusted; inmates in the mental health ward remain in their cells to eat and bathe, with only limited access to a day room outside the cells.
Source: Tommy Rutledge’s autopsy
These three deaths are just a few among hundreds that stem from state failures—each one a reminder of why every death demands a thorough investigation, followed by full public disclosure.
Jason kirkland
1993–2021, died at Donaldson Correctional Facility.
Darnell McMillian
1982–2020, died at Donaldson Correctional Facility.
Tommy Rutledge
1976–2020, died at Donaldson Correctional Facility.
Therefore, we filed dozens of public record requests over six years, pulling information from multiple sources of state and federal data, autopsy reports, along with eyewitness accounts from inside the prisons.
Read more about our methodology
The result—a searchable database of over 1300 people who died in Alabama prisons and how they died.
Taken together, the data shows:
Drug related deaths increased ten-fold over five years, becoming the leading driver of the soaring mortality rate in ADOC.
Homicides are now seven times higher than
a decade ago.
The suicide rate more than doubled in five years.
And officer brutality remains a deadly, unchecked reality in the system.
The U.S. Constitution requires prisons to protect incarcerated people from harm.
However, in Alabama any sentence can become
a death sentence.
Dig Deeper: The Human Cost of Alabama’s Prison System
Our database of deaths in state prison custody documents the humanity lost to the ongoing crisis.

Search, or filter by variables including age, race, and cause, to understand how and why people are dying in Alabama prisons.
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