By MARY NEAL

Larry was a remarkable person. Our mother reports that Larry suffered from an extremely high fever with a case of mumps at age nine. Until that time, Larry was like other children, but he was never completely rational after that. Whether or not that fever caused Larry’s problems is not understood. Diseases of the mind are still scientific mysteries.

Despite his mental illness, Larry was intelligent and literate. Larry had an almost photographic memory, and as a youngster, he loved to recite at our school’s weekly talent shows. Larry could recite verbatim the Webster Dictionary for as long as he was allowed time on stage. On his “bad” days, Larry sang and recited very loud and constantly. Larry would often deliver the Preamble to the Constitution, the Gettysburg Address, the Declaration of Independence, and Bible verses. My siblings and I had an advantage over other students of American History because Larry repeatedly recited these great works. For all we know, Larry may have died reciting them. Despite his frequent and lengthy periods as an inpatient throughout his adolescence and early adulthood, Larry managed to complete 10th grade. The trouble with schools having students recite the Pledge of Allegiance every morning is that many grow up, like Larry and me, actually believing that they have a right to “freedom and justice for all.” As children, we unequivocally believed the pledge applied equally to our family, our neighbors, and to everyone across America. I now realize that although the rights guaranteed under the Constitution should apply to all Americans, some must work very hard to make them a personal reality. For over four years, we have been doing just that in our quest for justice for Larry.

Larry was a patriot. When our brothers grew up, the Viet Nam war was underway, and Ed, who is two years older than Larry, volunteered for the Marines, and Larry immediately tried to enlist, too. Of course, Larry was rejected, but it was in his heart to be a soldier. One day after Ed returned home safely from war, Larry found his long military coat in the closet. Although it was a warm spring, Larry strutted around our little town for days wearing that coat proudly! He even boarded the bus taking students to my high school wearing that very coat. Since everyone in town knew Larry’s problems, the principal of the high school humored Larry and allowed him to attend a music class. None of the students is likely to ever forget that day!

Larry was a loving person, often giving away his money and clothes to other unfortunate people. Had Larry been a threat to society, he might have been hospitalized rather than jailed, thus saving his life. Although he lived in a State-appointed care home, Larry telephoned and visited his Memphis-area family members daily, always affirming his love for us before ending his call or visit. We assume that Larry was not allowed to call during his fatal incarceration, or he certainly would have telephoned for help.

Some of Larry’s relatives may still be embarrassed about his irrational behavior, having been teased often about our “crazy” relative. But I am not ashamed to say I had a handsome, loving, and very intelligent brother named Larry Morris Neal, and he was mentally ill. It is painful to consider the possible scenarios under which Larry may have died: Mace? Taser blasts? A heart attack brought on by terrifying hallucinations due to deprivation of Larry’s psychiatric drugs? We will never quit trying to uncover the truth about Larry’s secret incarceration and death. Larry’s family has a right to full disclosure.

What caused Shelby County, Tennessee Jail to ignore missing person reports for 18 days on inmate Larry Neal, while keeping this mentally ill heart patient incarcerated until his death on August 1, 2003?

Why did Shelby County Jail repeatedly and falsely report to Larry’s family and social worker during Larry’s period “missing” that neither Larry Neal nor any unidentified detainee meeting his description was incarcerated?

Immediately after Larry’s burial, why did The Cochran Firm contract with Larry’s mother, Hattie Neal, to sue Shelby County Jail for wrongful death, when the Memphis office of The Cochran Firm was in fact managed by Julian Bolton, a 20-year member of the Shelby County Commission, which is the entity that owns and operates the jail where Larry died?

Was it to protect Shelby County Government that The Cochran Firm merely held Larry’s wrongful death case on its shelves inactive for the next 10.5 months while the Tennessee statute of limitations on personal injury ran?

Why did The Cochran Firm write letters to Larry’s mother and sister, Mary Neal, after contracting with them and lie about a vigorous investigation and legal discovery that law firm was conducting regarding Larry’s wrongful death, when the law firm was actually doing nothing to represent them?

The law office located at 127 Peachtree Street in Atlanta, Georgia is widely advertised as being the Atlanta office of The Cochran Firm. Why did this law office deny being The Cochran Firm's Atlanta office in Fulton County Superior Court when Larry's family brought suit against The Cochran Firm and served the suit to that office? If that law office is not a Cochran Firm law office, why is it allowed to be advertised as such?

The Cochran Firm’s undisclosed conflict of interest, deliberate malpractice, and fraud of its clients effectively shielded Shelby County Jail from answering any Larry’s family’s questions regarding his incarceration and death.

This website seeks to chronicle the journey of Larry Neal's family as they bring these injustices into the light of the public forum. Please read our full story, view our documentary evidence, and contact us. Larry's family counts on you to help bring justice and closure regarding his wrongful death and to help decriminalize mental illness in America. Larry's secret incarceration and death in jail demonstrates plainly that many of America's mentally ill citizens need hospitalization. Incarceration and homelessness must not continue to be our answer to mental illness.

READ THE WHOLE STORY
OF LARRY'S WRONGFUL DEATH

FACTOR 8: THE ARKANSAS PRISON BLOOD SCANDAL

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Duda's award-winning film unflinchingly documents the whole story the U.S. government and the state of Arkansas have tried to keep hidden from the world.

Click the photo of Kelly Duda at work to order your own copy of
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Click the photo of Kelly Duda at work to visit the
Factor 8 Documentary website

Please help spread the word about this important film,
along with the urls to the linked pages.

This PRUP (Prison Reform Unity Project) site owned by

Linda Tant Miller
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