Who was Larry Price Jr. ?

Larry Price Jr. died in the Sebastian County jail in August 2021. He had been in jail for a year awaiting trial on a charge of making a threat against police officers in August of 2020.

Price's family has filed a federal lawsuit against the Sebastian County Jail in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas.

More:Photos of inmate's body in Sebastian County jail included in federal lawsuit

The life of Larry Price Jr.?

Price's brother Rodney has provided details about Larry's life through Hank Balson, the family's attorney from Seattle.

Here are their responses to questions from the Southwest Times Record.

Where was Larry born and raised?

He was born and raised in Fort Smith, Arkansas.

Where did he go to school?

Larry Jr. went to school at Howard Elementary, Southside Elementary, Trusty Elementary, Darby Jr. High School, and Northside High School.

What kind of activities did he enjoy as a boy such as sports, outdoors, hobbies?

Larry Jr. enjoyed joking with family—mainly mimicking family members. He played basketball and enjoyed fishing, dancing, and running track.

Can you describe his personality? What was he like as a person?

Larry Jr. was genuine and transparent. He really accepted what was said to him. And if he felt offended he would let you know. On the other hand, he loved family and others and liked to receive attention. What was he like as a person? He was tall—a big, gentle giant. Because of his height and weight he could be intimidating. But Larry Jr. was a big teddy bear. Like any of us, he wasn’t perfect, but he wasn’t aggressive—only intimidating because of his size. Larry Jr. just wanted to be loved as most people do. He was full of laughter and fun.

What is his connection to the Fort Smith area?

Larry Jr. had a host of family members in Fort Smith, including uncles, aunts, cousins, and other relatives. Most of his family understood his mental health problems and tried to support him. However and unfortunately, there were some that didn’t. Larry Jr. lived in Fort Smith and was well connected to the area. He mainly walked or biked in all parts of North Fort Smith. Most everyone knew him or his family.

What were his adolescent and young adult years like?

Larry Jr.’s years as an adolescent and young adult were positive. He had a special love for his dad. He was mesmerized by his dad, as he was a junior. His love for his dad was unmatched, but I think he felt that he could not live up to his dad’s standards due to his disabilities.

What kind of events happened in his life that had an impact?

I know that the divorce of our mom and dad impacted Larry Jr. deeply and perhaps mentally. Our family is huge in Fort Smith. Larry Sr., his dad, was the oldest of eight siblings and had a great influence of positivity with his family. But I feel that Larry Jr. knew he was unable to fill those shoes. So the fact his parents divorced devastated him. He also probably felt he was a reason. However, he vowed to stay with or around his dad even when he felt he wasn’t valued.

What can you tell me about his adult life? Larry Jr. always battled mental illness. He was in and out of board and care, mainly in Oklahoma cities such as Howe and Vinita. He loved his family, although sometimes felt rejected due to his mental health. When his dad passed in 2008, this was devastating as his dad was the anchor of the Price family—the oldest of eight siblings. Looking back, Larry may have lost his support life line when his dad died.

How have family members dealt with his loss? It’s been tremendously hard! Larry Jr. was expected by most family members to be in good care despite being incarcerated. Although he was housed in jail for over year, no one would ever think that he was being tortured, let alone suffering in such a manner as discovered. For the family, it was not uncommon for him to have episodes and most likely get caught up with jail. However, to die in such a heinous way—neglected in solitary confinement in such a slow, cruel, and inhumane way is a travesty and crime that demands accountability!

Anything else you would want people to know about Larry? Larry Jr. was a Black citizen born and raised in Fort Smith, Arkansas. He had severe mental illness. He was not perfect, but he was harmless and made a cry in his own way for help. However, he did not receive help but only solitary confinement, as though he were a violent convicted criminal. He starved to death as a result of serious mental illness that was ignored by the people whose job it was to keep him safe.

This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: The life of Larry Price Jr. as described by his family.