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WEST VIRGINIA RECORD

Friday, March 29, 2024

Wife blames prison for husband’s suicide

Stairwell empty

CHARLESTON – A Mercer County woman is suing the West Virginia prison system for allegedly contributing to her husband’s death by suicide.

Glenda Johnson, individually and as administrator of the estate of Glendle Hubert Belcher Jr., filed a lawsuit March 25 in Kanawha Circuit Court against the West Virginia Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety, the state of West Virginia Division of Corrections and Denmar Correctional Center, alleging wrongful death.

According to the complaint, Glendle Belcher was imprisoned for sexual assault on March 18, 2013, where he became a victim of inmate bullying and suffered from depression. After a scathing parole hearing, the suit says, Belcher was left unsupervised long enough to jump to his death in a stairwell on March 31, 2014.

Johnson says prison officials knew of his mental health condition, but failed to have him evaluated or monitored to prevent harm.

Johnson seeks compensatory damages, plus litigation costs and interest. She is represented by attorneys Guy R. Bucci and Ashley N. Lynch of Buccli Law Firm in Charleston and by Princeton attorney William Huffman.

Judge Charles E. King is assigned to the case.

Kanawha Circuit Court Case number 16-C-435

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