Attorneys Seek Accountability in Death of 21-Year-Old Inmate at Georgia State Prison

Inmate Found Dead in Georgia Prison Cell on Christmas Eve 2025

Attorney Ben Crump, attorney Liza Park, and the mother of 21-year-old inmate Je'vion Benham appeared together in Georgia on a Thursday to call for accountability following Benham's death inside a Georgia state prison. Benham was in the custody of the Georgia Department of Corrections when he was found dead in a prison cell on December 24, 2025.

According to Crump, Benham had been dead for two days before his body was discovered in what attorneys described as a solitary confinement cell. Crump stated that the Georgia Department of Corrections had a duty to keep Benham safe and asserted that his body was found after remaining in the cell for more than two days without detection.

Death Ruled a Homicide and Body Condition Described

Crump cited findings from the Lowndes County coroner, stating that decomposition had advanced to the point that Benham's face was unrecognizable when his body was discovered. Attorneys confirmed that Benham's death has been ruled a homicide. As of the time described in the account, his cellmate had not been charged.

Attorney Park said that their investigation into the circumstances of Benham's death is ongoing. She stated that Benham had requested solitary confinement due to safety concerns. According to Park, instead of being placed alone, he was housed in a cell with another inmate who had been incarcerated since the 1990s. Park said the two inmates were classified on different tiers, which she described as behavioral and security classifications intended to keep certain individuals separated, and she stated that the two should not have been housed together.

Family Notification and Travel to Georgia

Benham's mother, Robin Benham, said she received word on December 24, 2025, that her son had died. She stated that the last time she spoke with him was December 21, when he sounded worried but told her he was okay. On Christmas Eve, she received a message that her son was dead, and hours later officials informed her that he had been involved in an altercation and had succumbed to his injuries.

After receiving notice of her son's death, Robin Benham traveled from Iowa to Georgia. She said that when she arrived, she learned how advanced the decomposition was. She stated that she saw that her son did not have a recognizable face and that the family ultimately received his ashes.

Planned Legal Action and Official Response Status

Crump and Park stated that they plan to file notices of claim against the state of Georgia, alleging constitutional and state violations related to Benham's death. They said they are awaiting additional documents through open records requests and indicated that further information could influence their legal actions.

According to the attorneys, Benham had been expected to be released from custody in the near future before his death. As of the time described, the Georgia Department of Corrections had not publicly responded to the allegations made during the press event. Benham's family stated that their focus is on accountability and on preventing other families from experiencing a similar loss.