Clayton County Jail detainee's death ruled homicide over "uninhabitable living conditions," medical examiner says

The death of a man held at the Clayton County Jail has been ruled a homicide after the county medical examiner found that medical neglect and poor conditions contributed to his death.

Scott Worthy, 57, died at Grady Memorial Hospital on Sept. 6, 2025, one week after he was taken there from the jail, according to the Clayton County Medical Examiner's Office.

Worthy's sister, Sharon Worthy, said her brother lived with bipolar disorder but remembered him as an educated, hardworking man who cared about his faith, animals and football.

"He was a straight arrow," she said. "He loved the Bulldogs and the Christian music. He loved dogs. He was a college graduate. He graduated from Georgia State. He worked for Atlanta Union Mission as an addiction counselor. He worked at Publix. He was a good person."

Sharon Worthy said she remained in contact with the medical examiner while waiting about a year for her brother's death certificate and the final ruling.

"I kept asking him when we would finally get a certificate," she said. "So he finally called me and told me a couple nights ago."

The medical examiner determined that Scott Worthy died from complications of Streptococcus pyogenes sepsis, a life-threatening bacterial infection that can lead to organ failure and shock.

According to the medical examiner's report, Worthy's condition deteriorated while he was in custody, leaving him unable to perform basic tasks without help.

"At the time of EMS evaluation, Mr. Worthy was alert and oriented and reported that for approximately four days he had been unable to get up, obtain food, or use the restroom," the medical examiner wrote.

A paramedic said Worthy's clothing was soaked with bodily fluids and that there was a strong odor of urine and feces, according to the report. The paramedic also said Worthy appeared not to have been cleaned or changed for several days.

"I was shocked," Sharon Worthy said after learning about the conditions described in the report.

Worthy told paramedics that other detainees had stolen his food and that he had been unable to get up to use the restroom, forcing him to urinate and defecate on himself, the medical examiner said.

The Medical Examiner's Office also found that officers did not conduct accurate welfare checks on Worthy before he was taken to the hospital.

Although the medical examiner classified Worthy's death as a homicide, that ruling does not automatically mean anyone will face criminal charges.

Sharon Worthy said she has hired an attorney.

"I have a lawyer," she said.

CBS News Atlanta has contacted the Clayton County Sheriff's Office for comment on the medical examiner's findings and will update this story if the agency responds.