When a person dies behind bars, the public often only knows about a person’s criminal charges and in some cases, the cause of death. This In Memoriam project attempts to provide a fuller picture of what families, friends, and communities lose when a person dies behind bars. The memorials below were written by Loyola Law students based on research, public records requests, and interviews when possible. We are thankful for the families and friends who agreed to participate in this project.

Here is what we have learned so far: many of the people who died were parents of young children. All of the people who died belonged to someone: their parents, their siblings, their children, their partners, and/or their friends. None of the people who died were sentenced to death by a court. Many were avid football fans. Some were talented artists and writers. Some of the memorials also reveal how people struggled with prior trauma, substance abuse, and mental health challenges prior to their death. In at least one case, the only clue about the life of the person is their criminal record. Together, these memorials remind us that what happens behind bars matters.

In Memoriam

Paul Willis

Paul Willis February 7, 1953 – 2004 Paul Willis was born on February 7, 1953, and died at 51 years old in 2004. Unfortunately, there is not too much we know about Paul during his lifetime. Online searches through various resources tend to only provide where Paul went astray in…
In Memoriam

Clarence Webb Jr.

Clarence Webb Jr. July 1951- March 30, 2005 Clarence Webb Jr. was born in July of 1951 in New Orleans, Louisiana to parents, Emend McGee Buggage and Clarence Webb Sr. Clarence’s grandmother on his mom's side, Ms. Rosa McGee, was alive when he was born. Clarence also had a host…
In Memoriam

Matthew Wade Bonnette

Matthew Wade Bonnette April 21, 1969- April 4, 2004 Described by his family as a “free spirit,” Matthew Wade Bonnette was a multifaceted person whose mindset to life was “just do whatcha wanna do.” Born on April 21, 1969, in Houma, Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana, Matthew was one of seven children.…
In Memoriam

Bryant P. Johnson

Bryant P. Johnson 1973-October 27, 2000 Bryant P. Johnson The Times Picayune generally discussed Bryant’s death in an article published online in 2000.  The article indicated that Bryant had a sister, Adrienne, but it did not list her last name. Librarians pulled a 1988 Ben Franklin yearbook from the shelves…
In Memoriam

Mark Jones

Mark Jones March 23, 1969 – June 29, 2004 Mark Jones was an avid wakeboarder   Born in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, Mark Jones was one of four children born to Brownie and Deborah Jones. The second child, his brother Matthew “Matt” Jones was the oldest followed by Mark and then his…
In Memoriam

Kerry Washington

Kerry Washington October 1966- April 29, 2006 Kerry Washington Kerry Washington died in Orleans Parish Prison on April 29, 2006. He was survived by his loving wife Cheryl and his two daughters, Emily and Kerri. At the young age of 39, Mr. Washington’s untimely death means that his life was…
In Memoriam

John Sanchez

John Sanchez June 1954- January 12, 2009 John A. Sanchez, III passed away on Monday, January 12, 2009, at the age of 54. John was the beloved son of Mary O. Soell and John A. Sanchez, Jr. He was the half-brother of Walter Sanchez, William Sanchez, Christopher Sanchez, Leigh Sanchez…
In Memoriam

Charles Cordell “Lucky” Jones

Charles Cordell “Lucky” Jones October 12, 1972 – November 27, 2008 Charles Cordell "Lucky" Jones “He was my best friend. He was nice and kind and always kept a smile on his face. He never changed. I love you, Charles,” Jacqueline Lacy wrote on December 5, 2008. Tina Owney wrote:…
In Memoriam

Charles “Alley Cat” Allen

Charles “Alley Cat” Allen May 23, 1956- May 30, 2015 Charles "Alley Cat" Allen A flood of heartfelt messages from family provide a window into Charles “Alley Cat” Allen’s life. Charles was a beloved family man, known to many as “Alley”. His niece writes, “Uncle Alley R.I.P my heart go…
In Memoriam

Christian David Freeman

Christian David Freeman August 6, 1984 - June 25, 2020 Christian Freeman (L), holding his newborn son Ryder, his sister Chantelle Freeman and Jesse Freeman (R) On August 6th, 1984, in Metairie, Louisiana, Mrs. Ginger Adams Freeman and Mr. David Ray Freeman welcomed a bouncing baby boy named Christian David…
In Memoriam

Desmond “Plucky” Guild

Desmond “Plucky” Guild 1993 - June 19, 2020 Desmond Guild was the type of man who never really smiled. He acted as if it pained him to smile, but when he smiled, he lit up the room. His family paints a picture of a man who was loving, respectful, and…
In Memoriam

Lawrence Webb Hathorn

Lawrence Webb Hathorn January 28, 1960 - July 27, 2011 Lawrence Webb Hathorn was born on January 28, 1960, in Houston, Texas, to Buford and Annette Hathorn of Gilbert, Arkansas. His father passed away in 2011 and his mother is still living and remains in Gilbert, Arkansas. At the time…
In Memoriam

Colby George Crawford

Colby George Crawford January 14, 1994 - February 22, 2017 Born January 14, 1994, Colby resided in the New Orleans area with his family. Colby spent time with his mother Celette, step-father Paul, and three sisters, Cassie, Casey, and Courtney growing up. However, Colby suffered from bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, substance…
In Memoriam

Jaquin Thomas

Jaquin Thomas January 24, 2001 - October 17, 2016   During this rollercoaster called Life, we encounter many mental and physical experiences. Some people learn from these experiences and decide to make a change in themselves, while others seems to stay the same and not change at all. Throughout time,…
In Memoriam

Patrick Bell

Patrick B. Bell November 7, 1960 - October 15, 2008 My search for Patrick Bell began with letters sent to the U.S. District Court in March 2013. Patrick B. Bell’s name appeared on a chart amongst the letters. His name was listed as one of forty unfortunate deaths suffered by…
In Memoriam

Calvin “Deal” James Thomas, Sr.

Calvin "Deal" James Thomas, Sr.  October 21, 1981 - November 15, 2012 Calvin James Thomas (Deal), Sr. was born October 21, 1981 in New Orleans, Louisiana, to parents, Mona Lisa Deal and Thomas Frank Deal. Calvin grew up with his two older siblings in a tight knit household in the…