Mother of a transgender woman sues after daughter dies at Rikers Island

The mother of a transgender woman from Yonkers, who died while in solitary confinement at Rikers Island, has filed a federal lawsuit.

News 12 Staff

Aug 13, 2019, 4:11 PM

Updated 1,728 days ago

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The mother of a transgender woman from Yonkers, who died while in solitary confinement at Rikers Island, has filed a federal lawsuit.
Layleen Polanco, 27, was in jail last June when she unable to post bail on misdemeanor assault charges.
An autopsy revealed she died of complications from epilepsy. She also suffered from schizophrenia.
In her lawsuit, Layleen's mother says she should not have been placed in solitary confinement, since she was at a heightened risk of death.
The lawsuit, filed in Federal Court in Brooklyn, names the city and several city employees as defendants.


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