ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — An inmate at the Clayton County Jail died from sepsis caused by “medical neglect and uninhabitable living conditions” at the jail, according to the Clayton County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Scott Worthy, 57, died on Sept. 6, 2025, after he was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital in late August 2025.

The medical examiner’s office said his cause of death was complications from streptococcus pyogenes sepsis, and ruled his death a homicide.

“This determination is based upon evidence that Mr. Worthy experienced a period of significant physical deterioration while confined in the Clayton County Jail and became unable to perform basic activities of daily living without assistance,” the medical examiner’s office said.

Before he was hospitalized, the medical examiner’s office said Worthy told EMS workers that he had not been able to get up, get food or use the bathroom for four days. He was also found to have “severe widespread skin abnormalities, including blistering, skin detachment, mucous membrane involvement and areas of necrosis,” the medical examiner’s office said.

The medical examiner’s office said it “determined that failures to timely identify and respond to (Worthy’s) severe physical deterioration while under custodial supervision materially contributed to the circumstances resulting in his fatal infection and death.”

Initially, Worthy’s manner of death was classified as undetermined.

MORE COVERAGE:

• Viral documentary sheds light on issues at troubled Clayton County Jail
• Families of Clayton County inmates claim inhumane conditions, human rights violations inside jail

Atlanta News First has reached out to the Clayton County Sheriff’s Office for a statement.

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