Family of Dead Alabama Inmate Says His Body Was Returned to Them Badly Decomposed – And Missing a Heart 

The family of an inmate who died in an Alabama prison last month said the body was decomposing and missing a heart when it was returned to them, according to a report.

The family of Brandon Clay Dotson, who was found dead Nov. 16 at Ventress Correctional Facility, is suing the Alabama Department of Corrections in federal court, AL.com reported.

The lawsuit accuses the department of being "indifferent to the conditions that led to, resulted in, and caused the death ...  in violation of Mr. Dotson's constitutional rights."

"This is also a civil action against all Defendants for engaging in the illegal, reprehensible and outrageous conduct of retaining organs and tissues from incarcerated individuals who die in state custody without the consent of their family, next of kin, or representatives, as required by law," it said. 

The family also wants Dotson's heart returned.

The 43-year-old father's family said they spent days pleading with prison officials to return the body after learning of Dotson's death in the hopes of holding a funeral by Thanksgiving Day. 

He was found dead in his bed after seeking help from prison officials because other inmates were abusing him over his failure to pay drug debts. 

Dotson's body was released to the family on Nov. 21.

"At this point the body had not been properly stored and was severely decomposed. Despite the family’s initial wishes, they had no choice but to hold a closed casket funeral service," the suit says. 

After suspecting foul play, the family hired Dr. Boris Datnow, a pathologist, to conduct a second autopsy.

"Dr. Datnow discovered that the heart was missing from the chest cavity of Mr Dotson’s body," the suit says.

The prison system's "overall mistreatment of Mr. Dotson’s body and the Dotson family amounts to outrageous conduct that needlessly and recklessly intensified the family’s emotional distress," the lawsuit says. 

A spokesperson for the Alabama Department of Corrections told AL.com that it does not conduct autopsies, and that it doesn't comment on pending litigation.