Tracie Otero wrote to me from the Perryville women's prison in August saying she was in so much pain that she had considered taking her life. She claims she wasn't able to see a doctor or receive proper medical treatment. She died by suicide yesterday.
According the Department of Corrections: "Tracie G. Otero, 47, died on Sept 22 from an apparent act of self-harm by hanging. Prison staff discovered her Tuesday morning unresponsive in her assigned housing location.
Paramedics transported her to Abrazo West Campus, where she was later pronounced deceased at 4:08 p.m."
"I've gotten really sick these past 2 1/2 months. My muscles and bones hurt and I have a lot of fatigue. This pain that I have is unbearable."
She claims an NP saw her repeatedly but was unable to diagnose her. "I have asked numerous times to see a real doctor"
"I need some kind of help ASAP. The pain got so bad a few weeks ago that I wanted to commit suicide. They sent me to watch for two weeks and put me right back on the yard."
"I don't know how much longer that I will be able to deal with this pain."
"I asked for a second opinion on my health condition and medical told me no. They only let me see a NP. Could you please help me?"
I get a lot of really troubling, heartbreaking letters from incarcerated people asking for help, but Tracie's letter shook me so much that I immediately forwarded it to attorneys at the Prison Law Office, who represent Arizona inmates in a prison health care lawsuit
The Prison Law Office wrote to Tracie the same day, but never heard back. Attorney Corene Kendrick says they "have historically had problems with mail getting in and out of Perryville."
If anyone knows more about Tracie or her family, or if you know someone that lived with her at Perryville, please contact me: jjenkins@kjzz.org 812-243-5582
Otero is one of several inmates who died by suicide at Perryville in recent years - in July of 2019 an inmate explicitly expressed suicidal thoughts, didn't get any help, and then took her life
Sadie Johnson, July 2019
Ashley Carr, March 2020
Tracie Otero recently sent this letter to her mother about the lack of medical care at Perryville: "You have got to help me. I'm ready to hang myself and I am not joking. I'm in severe pain."
"I feel like someone poured gasoline all over my body . . . I can't live like this . . . Medical will not let me see a doctor. They only let me see an NP . . . They won't give me nothing for pain . . . This pain that I have is unbearable . . I can barely write you this letter."
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