CIVIL RIGHTS
Family Demands Answers in Gay Man’s Death at Rikers
Esias “Izzy” Johnson was ignored as he sought medical help, his mother says
BY MATT TRACY
The family of a gay 24-yearold
who died at Rikers is
seeking answers about
the circumstances surrounding
his death after they said
jail offi cials ignored his pleas for
medical care when other inmates
heard him “screaming” for help.
Esias “Izzy” Johnson, a Massachusetts
native remembered by
his parents as an intelligent, kindhearted
young man, was found
dead at 9:45 a.m. on September 7
after he spent an entire month trying
unsuccessfully to get released
on his $1 bail. He is one of a dozen
people who have died at the notorious
jail complex this year alone.
The city’s chief medical examiner
told Gay City News the cause and
manner of Johnson’s are pending
“further studies.” A New York Daily
News report published just hours after
he died cited a source claiming he
suffered a fatal overdose — and Johnson’s
family learned of that claim in
the news — though they have not
been informed of any offi cial cause of
death and they are hesitant to draw
any sweeping conclusions.
“Inmates came forward saying
he had been complaining of
stomach pain for days,” Johnson’s
mother, Tracy Johnson, told
Gay City News in an interview on
September 19. “Inmates said he
had been screaming all night for
help, and come morning time, he
couldn’t get out of bed. He never got
out of bed for breakfast.”
She added, “I think they put a
drug overdose to cover up that
they weren’t taking care of him or
helping him.”
The family’s attorney, Jamie Santana,
told Gay City News that he
believes “multiple inmates saw and
heard” Johnson in pain and “witnessed
that he received zero medical
attention.” Santana said Johnson’s
calls for medical attention “were
heard and known by the facility.”
“We do believe that Rikers Island
was negligent with respect
to the duty of care,” Santana said
on September 20. “It certainly appears
they failed at providing any
Esias “Izzy” Johnson was unable to get out of Rikers and his calls for medical help were ignored, according
to his family and their attorney.
medical attention.”
The family has requested a toxicology
report, they said, though
they were also warned that it could
take time to get results.
Johnson’s death marked the
tragic culmination of a tumultuous
month riddled with frustration
and endless setbacks. He was arrested
on a misdemeanor menacing
charge in New York City, but
was sent to Rikers after authorities
saw that he also had a warrant
out for his arrest stemming from a
separate case in New Jersey. His
family and their attorney believe
he never should have wound up at
Rikers — and at the very least, he
should have been able to get out in
a timely manner. Even at just $1
bail, he was required to complete
procedural hurdles before getting
out — but he never got the opportunity
to do that.
“He said he had problems with
his court dates,” Johnson’s mother
said of a court hearing scheduled
to take place when he was in
Rikers. “He wasn’t being taken to
them. He had a date on the 18th
of August and I gave him all the
info. He passed all the information
to the appropriate people. It was a
phone court appointment, but they
never set it up for him. He said,
‘I’m missing court dates like crazy,
mom, they’re not doing anything.’”
Johnson’s mother scrambled
TRACY JOHNSON
to contact offi cials in New Jersey,
where his court dates were based,
but she was informed they couldn’t
do anything to help — and at that
point the family felt helpless as
Johnson toiled behind bars.
Department of Correction (DOC)
Commissioner Vincent Schiraldi
said in a written statement that
“the circumstances surrounding
this death will receive a full investigation,”
but a spokesperson denied
that the DOC failed to make sure
Johnson attended court appointments.
According to the DOC, both
of Johnson’s cases — the one in
New York City and in New Jersey —
were adjourned to August 20, and
that court date was cancelled and
rescheduled for September 8 — just
one day after he died. It is Santana’s
understanding, however, that “a
hold” was placed on Johnson while
he was incarcerated.
The DOC did not answer a followup
question from Gay City News
asking about Johnson’s apparent
stomach pain in the time leading
up to his death.
“He was supposed to be home
this week sometime,” Johnson’s
mother said. “It’s a bit hard right
now because we didn’t get to see
him for his birthday. He was excited
to be home so he could celebrate
— and as a mom, it hurts
more because he could have been
helped.”
Johnson grew up north of Boston
in Haverhill, Massachusetts,
where he attended high school at
St. James School and Haverhill
High School and excelled as a tutor.
His family has been reminiscing
about his bright smile and
bubbly personality: He loved making
music, dancing, and listening
to Whitney Houston and Michael
Jackson.
Johnson’s mother said he had
Asperger’s Syndrome and experienced
social anxiety, but was very
caring and would frequently volunteer
his time in the local community
to help those in need.
“He was a different person,” his
mother said. “If you knew Esias,
you knew him and you had to love
him because you knew who he was
in the heart.”
Johnson’s parents said he was
open with them about his life.
When he came out to them, he was
met with unconditional love — and
they even threw him a coming out
party and invited extended family
to celebrate with them.
“I said, ‘Listen, our son is gay.
If anyone has a problem you can
leave now,’” his mother told family
members. “Whatever he wanted,
we supported him.”
Johnson was drawn to move to
New York City after meeting a man
online, his family said, but once he
arrived in the Big Apple he started
encountering rough patches. He
found himself in trouble at times,
even as he kept in close contact
with his family.
While the family awaits more
details about Johnson’s death,
Santana said he is working with
his staff to take legal action in the
case. More details on that could
emerge once further information is
unveiled about Johnson’s death.
“We are going to try our very
best to pursue the highest level
of accountability,” Santana said.
“Unfortunately, no amount of justice
will bring back Esias.”
Johnson’s death came just over
two years after Layleen Polanco, a
➤ JOHNSON, continued on p.5
September 23 - October 6,4 2021 | GayCityNews.com
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