Family wants answers after 22 year old man suffers brain death in Hamilton County Jail custody
A photo of Christopher Ayala, who his family says is brain dead after being in custody at the Hamilton County Jail. (Courtesy: Ayala Family)
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- A family is asking for answers after they say their 22 year old son died while in the custody of the Hamilton County Jail.
22 year old Christopher Ayala according to Hamilton County General Session Court Records, was arrested on April 27 for a misdemeanor charge of improper usage of 9-1-1 calls.
However, according to court records, that was dismissed by the District Attorney’s office two days later.
His family is saying that at some point within 24 hours of his arrest on April 27th, something happened to Christopher that has resulted in him being brain dead.
Former District Attorney Neil Pinkston, who is representing the Ayalas, says the lack of answers about what happened is another example of questions being raised over issues at the Hamilton County Jail.
Pinkston said, “They were never informed by the Detention Center, the Jail, the Sheriff’s Office that their son had been transported to Erlanger. They only found out hours later after someone at Erlanger had called them… They called the jail to ask questions about what happened. A number of phone calls, one of those they were told he had never even booked into that jail.”
Just in the past year according to our archives, there have been several incidents resulting in injury, death, and leading to legal action against the jail, these are some of the examples:
- One inmate died after being assaulted at the Jail on September 26, 2023.
- Nine other inmates were charged with attempted first degree murder after a separate assault on January 24, 2024.
- There have also been arrests for drug smuggling and overdoses within the past year.
Pinkston said, “I know that the County Commission has given the Sheriff’s Office millions and millions of dollars to improve the security at the jail with locks, cameras, etcetera, so somebody out there knows what happened. There’s video if preserved should shed light on these questions the family has.”
Pinkston says that this is a recurring theme at the jail.
He says despite increased money going towards the jail, he feels the situation is not improving.
Pinkston said, “They, Commission as well as taxpayers, should see the results. Improved safety and improved quality, and until that happens, it’s going to be an ongoing issue.”
Pinkston says he has sent a letter to Hamilton County District Attorney Coty Wamp and Hamilton County Sheriff Austin Garrett regarding this incident.
He says whatever the answers are, the devastation for the Ayala family is all the same.
Pinkston said, “They’re not doing very well at all. They’re heartbroken, inconsolable, and they don’t understand how they’re not getting any answers.”
We have reached out to the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, who runs the jail, and District Attorney Coty Wamp, about this incident.
We have not heard back from either party.
We have also reached out to the family of Christopher Ayala and hope to bring you more on this story in the coming days.
