For the first time, the family of a man who died in a Cabot jail cell last week got a chance to see their loved one Wednesday. But they're also speaking out over his death. Police say the man hung himself Friday night. Family members say it's not that simple.
When Cabot police arrested 26-year-old Donnie Isom Friday evening, they took him to jail. Thirty minutes later a jailer said he saw Isom lying on the ground with a blanket around his neck. His relatives say they have some questions for the Cabot police department. The first question they ask is why did it take so long to see their loved one?
"Somebody hurt my son. Somebody killed my son," Teresa Rapier said just leaving the funeral home after seeing her son. It’s the first time her family has seen him since police say he hung himself in his jail cell.
Police were called to the Steeplechase Apartments in Cabot Friday. They picked up Isom and charged him with disorderly conduct and intoxication. Relatives say he was having an argument with his ex-girlfriend who then called police. But the night of the arrest, Isom's twin brother says they were told a different story.
"My older brother was told on the phone that he assaulted a police officer,” Ronnie Isom said.
Wednesday, they were shocked when they looked at his body. "I know what my son looks like and this is not my son that I just saw,” Rapier said.
“On top of his forehead is a knot. They're trying to cover a black eye with make-up. There’s a cut on his lip. On his arm was like someone had their fingers a hold of him," said Isom’s uncle Johnny Price.
The Cabot police department isn't saying much about the case, but has requested that state police investigate.
"If he would've and he was hurting that bad, he would've told me before it happened,” Ronnie Isom said.
The twin brother has more questions about exactly what happened that night. "Why would they not call someone from the family to identify that it was Donnie?" Ronnie Isom asked.
A Cabot police spokesperson says cameras at the jail did not pick up the moment when they say Isom hung himself. The department says there's talk about improving that camera system.
The family says with no visible proof Isom hung himself, it's their word against police and they're ready to fight.
Police say Isom was the only person in his jail cell Friday night. Family members said they were told he was the only one in the whole jail that night. Police told us Wednesday, the Cabot jail is full.
