An accused killer whose weight has purportedly dropped from 413 pounds to 308 during his eight months behind bars is now suing the Arkansas county holding him, claiming he's starving.
Broderick Lloyd Laswell, 20, says the Benton County Jail is not providing inmates with enough food.
"On several occasions I have started to do some exercising and my vision went blurry and I felt like I was going to pass out," Laswell wrote in his civil rights lawsuit. "About an hour after each meal my stomach starts to hurt and growl. I feel hungry again."
According to the Northwest Arkansas Morning News, Laswell claims he's lost about a half-pound a day.
"If we are in a small pod all day, do next to nothing for physical exercise, we should not lose weight," he says. "The only reason we lost weight in here is because we are literally are being starved to death."
Laswell also complains about variations in the size of meal portions.
"There are noticeable differences on the size of biscuits and cakes, as well as the sides," according to Laswell, who also wants hot meals to be served from the jail's kitchen.
The Benton County Jail has provided only cold food for years, with a jail captain saying inmates receive an average of 3,000 calories per day.
Authorities say Laswell and a co-defendant fatally beat and stabbed a man, before setting his home on fire.
The lawsuit has sparked comments on Internet messageboards, including:
- Sounds to me like the jail is doing him a big favor. Here is the deal. Don't like the food? Well, then you should not have put yourself in the position to be incarcerated.
- How could this be a bad thing? I mean the taxpayers are footing the bill for your weight-loss program. While I personally would not want to spend time in jail to lose weight, this is one of the best programs Benton County can offer an inmate. Another positive note about this, losing all this weight allows you to fit on the death chamber table. Buddy, you really are not getting any sympathy on this one.
- On this man's original charge, did he eat the victim?