Family of HMP inmate who died by suicide holds protest, demanding justice
CBC
Standing outside Her Majesty's Penitentiary in St. John's, Michelle Pike holds an urn with her son's ashes tightly in her arms.
"Gregory should have been watched … I wouldn't be here with my son today in this," Pike said, hugging the urn closer to her chest.
"His little heart would be beating and he would be home with his family where he belongs."
Pike and her daughters led a protest outside Her Majesty's Penitentiary on Saturday morning after her son, Gregory Pike, died by suicide while incarcerated at the jail. He was found unresponsive in his cell on Sept. 16 and was taken to hospital, where he died three days later.
The family said Gregory was unsupervised and desperately needed help with his addictions and mental health issues, but instead fell victim to a dangerous system.
Gregory's family said he was trying to get into U-Turn, an addiction treatment facility in Carbonear. The family said he had written letters begging for someone to help, but his cries went unheard.
After being denied a spot in the facility, Gregory was sent to Her Majesty's Penitentiary, where he took his life less than three days after arriving.
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