Sister of man who died of cancer in city custody says officials kept her in the dark about his condition

The fallout from the decease successful metropolis custody past March of a cancer-stricken antheral whose condemnation had been overturned was compounded by failures of the Correction Department and aesculapian officials to pass the household of his worsening condition, his sister alleged Thursday.

Khadira Savage, 40, told The Daily News Thursday that the household was not kept informed arsenic Roy Savage’s information deteriorated implicit the 2 months earlier helium died successful Bellevue Hospital connected March 22. She said his assemblage was whisked distant from the infirmary to the metropolis morgue earlier she could spot him and that the household asked for an autopsy by the city Medical Examiner’s office, but it was ne'er done.

Khadira Savage (Obtained by Daily News)

“There was zero connection aft helium was transferred from upstate to the jails,” she said. “There was nary correspondence from the city. When we tried to interaction him, determination was nary response.”

Khadira Savage is expected to attest Friday earlier the City Council’s Criminal Justice Committee successful a proceeding connected respective pending bills, including 2 designed to amended household notifications pursuing deaths and superior injuries.

As The News archetypal reported successful March, a five-judge appeals sheet overturned his conviction for stabbing his woman to decease successful 2016. The sheet ruled detectives had erred successful informing him astir his rights erstwhile obtaining his confession, the determination said.

On Nov. 30, 2023 helium was moved from authorities situation to Rikers Island arsenic the Bronx DA’s bureau filed announcement to entreaty the ruling.

In January, helium was moved to Bellevue arsenic his information declined.

Khadira Savage said the household repeatedly asked to spot him, but were denied and told to wait. When the household was yet capable to sojourn him astatine Bellevue connected March 21, the time earlier helium died, his information had deteriorated to the constituent wherever helium was incapable to speak.

“In November, my member was watching shot with me. I privation to cognize what transpired aft that,” she said.

“His tegument was dirty. Why is helium not being bathed? Everything was pointing to mistreatment.”

On March 22, the household were notified that helium was dying. They reached Bellevue and were told by a jailhouse ward serviceman to hold for support to spot him. An hr passed.

Finally, Khadira called the serviceman again. “He said, ‘Why are you trying to travel upstairs? The assemblage is connected its mode to the morgue,’” she recalled. “I stood successful the lobby for implicit an hr successful disbelief.”

She claims the household requested an autopsy but they learned successful August aft helium was already cremated that nary autopsy was conduct.

“We ne'er got an reply wherefore nary autopsy was conducted,” Khadira said.

Julie Bolcer, a spokeswoman with the Medical Examiner’s office, did not instantly respond to an email from The News.

One of the bills to beryllium discussed Friday would necessitate Correctional Health Services to grounds the sanction of the lawyer who represents a detainee who attempts suicide, is earnestly injured oregon is hospitalized.

A 2nd measure would codify a request that jailhouse officials, successful the lawsuit of a decease successful custody, notify the person’s lawyer and the public.

Khadira Savage had been moving for a nonprofit placing stateless radical successful little Manhattan successful apartments. But her brother’s decease inspired her to instrumentality a occupation with the jailhouse advocacy radical Freedom Agenda.

“The full strategy is trained to behave successful a mode that is truthful cold,” Khadira said. “My question is why. Some radical can’t advocator for themselves. These bills would amended that communication.”