Rodney Garrick’s Death in DeKalb County, Georgia on October 22, 2025: Alleged Medical Neglect Inside Jail Under Investigation

DeKalb County officials have initiated a full investigation into the death of 59-year-old detainee Rodney Garrick Sr., who died two days after being booked on misdemeanor charges. According to accounts from a former inmate, Garrick repeatedly requested access to his prescribed blood thinner medication and water but allegedly received no response from jail personnel. He was later found unresponsive in his bunk as staff attempted to prepare him for release. Medical responders transported him to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The DeKalb County Jail stated that the death appeared to be the result of a sudden, unanticipated medical emergency, though the Medical Examiner’s Office and internal investigators continue to examine the circumstances. Written statements from multiple inmates were reported to exist but were not formally submitted to the jail due to concerns they would be disregarded. Garrick’s family, including his mother, expressed profound grief, noting that his death occurred on her birthday. The case has renewed discussion regarding detainee welfare and the standards of medical care within correctional facilities.