Judge dismisses federal suit in Del. inmate death

A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by the parents of a man who hanged himself in a Delaware prison while serving a life sentence for murder.

Twenty-one-year-old Christopher Wallace hanged himself in March 2011. He was serving a life sentence for stabbing to death his 9-year-old cousin, Daniel Schlor, in 2005. Wallace, who was 15 at the time of the killing, was found guilty but mentally ill.

 

Wallace’s parents sued the prison, but the judge dismissed the complaint earlier this year, saying government agencies are immune from suit.

The judge did allow Wallace’s parents to amend the complaint if they could identify potentially responsible third parties.

The lawsuit was dismissed this week after the parents failed to file an amended complaint despite being given two extensions of time.