The Augusta, Ga., youth detention facility where a 19-year-old inmate was beaten in November and subsequently died ranks second among Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) facilities in employee misconduct, contraband and altercations between youth and staff.
Only the Eastman YDC, according to reports obtained by The Augusta Chronicle, surpassed the Youth Development Campus (YDC) in Augusta.
Jade Holder was severely beaten in his cell in Unit 43 of the Augusta YDC Nov. 7. He was pronounced brain dead at the hospital and died the following day.
One guard at the facility was fired in connection with Holder’s murder. Marlon McCreary, Sr., was dismissed for “failure to lock the doors to the rooms of the resident in Unit 43.”
Two other employees, a guard and a captain, were suspended following Holder’s death. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation began a criminal investigation into Holder’s death at the request of the DJJ. The DJJ is running its own administrative investigation.
Michael Everidge, a 17-year-old youth at the Augusta facility, was charged with Holder’s murder. A preliminary hearing for Everidge was continued Friday.
Everidge’s mother says her son claims he did not kill Holder.
"I mean, you got to understand there are more boys involved in this from what my son is saying," Keiondra Everidge told Augusta’s News 12. "There's more involved in this situation."
In the wake of Holder’s murder, Gov. Nathan Deal announced new leadership at the Augusta YDC. Gary Jones, chief of police in Sardis, Ga. will begin a special three-month assignment at the facility. According to a statement by the Governor’s Office, Jones will answer directly to new DJJ Commissioner Gale Buckner.
Photo by Clay Duda | JJIE.org