A Houston mother is seeking answers after her son, a U.S. Army veteran, died while in custody at the DeKalb County Jail. Jonia Milburn has been vocal in her pursuit for clarity regarding the circumstances that led to the death of her son, Christon Collins, who she insisted should have been receiving medical treatment for his mental health issues, not languishing behind bars, as reported by FOX 5 Atlanta.
Milburn's struggle is not just a solitary cry in the dark, as organizations like Veterans for Justice, and Atlanta Alliance are supporting her quest for truth. "We want a speedy resolution," Amos King, founder of Veterans for Justice, declared, emphasizing the need for a prompt autopsy and an immediate explanation from Sheriff Melody Maddox about the events leading to Collins' death, as shared by FOX 5 Atlanta. Collins, who was 27 years old at the time of his demise, had a marked shift in his mental health after serving more than three years in the Army, returning home in 2017.
"Never was the same," Jonia Milburn recounted, delineating her son's battle with PTSD and schizophrenia. Jonia shared in an interview with 11Alive that her son was diagnosed with these conditions multiple times and, despite her efforts, was often unable to get the necessary care from the VA hospital. Collins reportedly would leave the VA voluntarily before receiving the help he needed, she said, resulting in a pattern of arrests and hospitalizations.
His latest stint in jail began on February 4, following an arrest for obstruction of law enforcement and simple battery against police officers. On March 13, Collins experienced a medical emergency while in his cell which led to his death, the mother was left with haunting questions about the incident, "What happened to my son? Who was in the jail cell with him? How long was he down? Who found him," as she told 11Alive.
While the investigation into Collins' death is still ongoing in DeKalb County, the implications of this tragedy stretch far beyond the case itself. Milburn hopes that by sharing her son's story, greater attention will be brought to veterans with mental health issues, who, in her words, "should not die in a jail cell because he was in jail because of a mental health episode." The VA has yet to respond to inquiries regarding the case.
