DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — More than two years after a metro recruit died on the job, a Channel 2 Action News investigation is credited with getting a county to cover his funeral costs and other expenses.
George Ward, a father of two, died in 2013.
Ward wanted to be a DeKalb County jailer. He died after participating in recruitment exercises.
Originally, the DeKalb County Medical Examiner ruled Ward died of "natural causes." He later changed the ruling to "undetermined" once Channel 2 Investigative Reporter Erica Byfield showed him the video of Ward's final hours.
The M.E. told Byfield the leadership in the DeKalb County's Sheriff's Office never told him video existed.
A source told Byfield about it, and she received it through an open records request.
What is on the video may explain why the jailers never said anything about it publicly.
The video shows leaders forced Ward to wear pink and called him names instead of calling for help when he could not walk on his own.
"If they felt that he was not capable, they could have put him out of the class," Lorraine Fredericks, Ward's mother, said as she wiped tears from her face. "They did not have to treat him the way that he was treated. He did not deserve that."
Fredericks buried her son in the U.S. Virgin Islands, where she raised him.
She paid for all of the expenses in 2013. In the months that would follow, DeKalb County would deny her request for workman's compensation benefits, because the M.E. ruled Ward died of "natural causes."
Earlier this month, Fredericks filed a $20 million civil lawsuit, alleging several top DeKalb officials conspired to cover up her son's death.
The suit also reveals, because of Channel 2 Action News' reporting, the county finally agreed to "honor George's claims under the Workers Compensation Act".
The attorney representing Frederick's and Ward's sons told Byfield the county will reimburse Fredericks for the funeral costs and Ward's children will get weekly payments until they turn 18.
Fredericks said that is something but not enough.
"I don't think I will ever be the same again.I just want to know what happened. Why did they do this to George? Why?"she questioned.
Ward's children will continue to receive Workman's Compensation payments if they attend college.
Along with the weekly payments, DeKalb County also agreed to pay the boys back pay and interest.
County officials declined to comment on Fredericks lawsuit, citing a policy not to comment on pending litigation.
In the wake of the Channel 2 Action News' investigation, two senior DeKalb County jailers who supervised Ward's training remain under state investigation.
WSBTV
