Alegend Jones.Photo:Gofundme
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A Tennessee family is grieving the loss of their teenaged family member who was allegedly “assaulted and battered” after she “refused” to take her clothes off in front of two male counselors during a medical visit, according to the family’s civil rights attorney, Ben Crump.
Alegend Jones, 17, a resident at Youth Villages group home in Bartlett, Tenn., was “body slammed” during a visit to the county health department, Crump alleged at apress conferenceon Wednesday. She died four days after she was taken to a hospital after the Nov. 16 incident, the Bartlett Police Department confirmed with PEOPLE. The group home has denied the allegations.
“[Jones] was told to remove her clothes while she was at the health department,” Crump alleged. “She did not want to take off her clothes in front of two male counselors.”
“Whatever transpired ended up with the neurologist telling [Jones' mother] we believe the cause of death was brain bleed,” Crump added.
The authorities investigating did not state a cause of death.
Youth Villages, according to its public statement, is a group home that provides care “to the most vulnerable young people within our communities. … Our programs are designed to help these young people heal, grow, and develop the tools and skills necessary to lead safe and productive lives and to return home to their families and communities.”
Alegend Jones.Gofundme
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Garner said at the press conference that she hasn’t received any apology from the youth center, and they have not responded to her since she reached out to get Jones' belongings.
When contacted about the family’s claims, Youth Villages reiterated their statement and declined to respond to PEOPLE’s specific query.
Crump, alongside the family, called for a “thorough and impartial investigation” into the matter.
The Tennessee Department of Children’s Services and the Bartlett Police Department said in separate statements to PEOPLE they are investigating the incident.
source: people.com
