The mother of an Illinois inmate who died in custody says she's not buying what the prison or coroner are telling her and she wants answers and the truth to be told.
Morose and surrounded by her family and loved ones Tuesday, Janel Charles says she doesn't want another family to go though what hers is going through.
"I wanna fight for justice or my son," she said.
She says her son, 27-year-old Michael Jefferson was at Menard Maximum Security Correctional Facility on a parole violation.
Earlier this month, Jefferson, who suffers from bipolar disorder, was found unresponsive in his private cell.
"I'm so angry," Charles said.
The Randolph County coroner's office tells NBC 5 that the July 12 autopsy preliminary findings show no signs of trauma and is pending completion, awaiting toxicology results.
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"I didn't understand how you didn't see any trauma," Charles said. "Is that how they come out of Menard looking when they die?"
The Department of Corrections says its investigating, adding in a statement: "It is the department's understanding that the wounds seen in the pictures of Mr. Jefferson's body are consistent with those incurred during an autopsy and the swelling a result of the body's rapid decomposition."
"I wanna know why my son died. He was under your care. You knew he was mentally ill. You say he was in a cell alone. No human could inflict that much pain on himself," Charles said.
The family has hired an attorney and looking to have a second autopsy done as soon as possible.
