Kastellio Vaughan: 'Extremely malnourished' Alabama inmate has lost 75 lbs since July, sister alleges
ELMORE, ALABAMA: An Alabama woman has accused the staff at the Elmore Correctional Facility of violating the rights of her brother, who is an inmate at the prison. Kassie Vaughan shared a slew of pictures showing the deteriorating health of her brother in the prison, allegedly due to neglect from authorities.
Kassie took to Facebook on Friday, September 23 to share the disturbing pictures of her brother Kastellio Vaughan, who is currently four years into a 20-year-sentence for multiple charges of unlawful breaking and entering a vehicle and first-degree robbery. In the post, Kassie mentioned she saw Kastellio last in July 2022 and he was in good condition at that time.
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In the pictures shared by Kassie, Vaughan appeared to be sick and gaunt. One picture showed him unconsciously leaning on a wall, while another showed a large scar going down his abdomen. To show the considerable difference from how he once looked, Kassie also posted an older image of her brother. According to Kassie, he has lost approximately 75 pounds.
“I’m coming to you right now based on my brother’s health. My brother’s health is rapidly declining. As you can see in these photos he is extremely malnourished. In these particular photos, he cannot walk nor stand he is weak and vulnerable. My last visitation with my brother was July 24, 2022 he was in good condition.” Kassie wrote in the caption of the post.
“I am not a doctor but his health seems to be deteriorating. I received 2 pictures of him today saying “GET HELP”. I’m asking for you to simply share and get these pictures out this is violating human rights. I don’t see how you cannot get help when a individual is in this state.” Kassie wrote while asking family and friends to share the post as much as they can.
Kassie also started a GoFundMe to pay for an attorney. The page has raised nearly $7,500 of its $12,000 goal. In a follow-up post on Friday, Kassie said they haven’t received any update from his brother. She clarified that her family is asking for medical help, not for his release.
In another follow-up post on Facebook, Kassie revealed the family has hired national civil rights attorney Lee Merritt. Merritt recently released a statement in reference to representing the family, saying Kastellio underwent surgery last month in which the doctors took out "a portion of his intestines as a result of gunshot injuries" that he suffered before going to jail.
"Due to inadequate facilities, abuse, and medical neglect, Vaughan's medical condition rapidly deteriorated," Merritt adds. "Vaughan is believed to have lost 75 lbs .of body weight in less than a month. Vaughan surgical scars were exposed to unsanitary conditions and were possibly infected."
He continued, "My office has been working to ensure Mr Vaughan receives the care his condition requires. We are also investigating whether or not agents of the state of Alabama violated their duty of care to Mr Vaughan by allowing his medical condition to spiral to the point reflected in the images now circulating the web."
Reacting to Kassie's claims, the Alabama Department of Corrections released a statement saying Kastellio is receiving appropriate treatment in the prison. "He is assigned to Elmore Correctional Facility (CF) but is currently housed at Staton Medical Observation Unit. ADOC's Office of Health Services has fully investigated his situation from a clinical perspective, and he has been offered all necessary treatment for his condition," the department said. "Also, he has been in touch with his family to update them on his situation."