Mother seeks data
on death of inmateByron Almeida, her son,
was found hanging in his cell
The mother of a former Oahu Community Correctional Center inmate has subpoenaed prison officials for all documents and records relating to his death last year.
The request for documents was filed yesterday in Circuit Court by Eliza Cummings, the mother of Byron Almeida. OCCC guards found Almeida, 30, hanging in his cell on Aug. 17, 2002.
Honolulu police detectives said Almeida was hanging from a noose made from a torn bedsheet and that his hands were bound with cloth when he was discovered by a security guard.
Police said Almeida left a note to his girlfriend, stating that he wanted to end his life. They classified the death as a suicide. Police said it is not uncommon for people who commit suicide to bind their own hands.
Almeida had served 10 years at Halawa Correctional Facility for robbery before he was released in June 18, 2002. He was sent to Oahu Community Correctional Center after he allegedly attacked two police officers with a 5-foot metal pipe four days later.