Mom speaks out about death of veteran son Christon Collins who was in custody of DeKalb County Jail

DEKALB COUNTY, GA—Jonia Milburn released disturbing information during a press conference on Monday, July 22, concerning the death of her 27-year-old son, a U.S. Army veteran who suffered from PTSD and was confined at the DeKalb County Jail.   

Milburn said that Christon DaVante Collins had been arrested after having a post-traumatic stress disorder breakdown. She had been trying to get him help since last year after several arrests for petty crimes. He died in a system that failed him, she said.    

Milburn said that she obtained a surveillance video of her only son’s last hours alive at the jail through Georgia’s Open Records Act. The March 13 video, she said, was difficult to watch.  She said the video shows that Collins had a medical emergency near a telephone that was on a wall, fell and hit his head. Two inmates helped to move him to a mattress in cell 206 and later carried him into the Day Room, where inmates socialize and relax.  Milburn said that she was shocked to learn that her son did not receive medical assistance for over three hours—from 4:10 until 7:31 p.m. Guards discovered that Collins was unresponsive and rendered CPR and other aid to him, Milburn said.  That assistance apparently came too late.  

Collins ended up being transported to Emory Hospital, where he was removed from life support after being declared brain dead on March 15, two days after he fell and hit his head at the jail, Milburn said  

Milburn said that she learned from an independent autopsy performed at Emory Hospital that her son’s brain and spleen were removed. She said no one ever told the family that the medical examiner was holding the organs, which they can legally do for a year. She also said that post-mortem photos show that her son’s back and thigh were badly bruised. 

No one has explained the bruises or conflicting toxicology reports, Milburn said.  She said the medical examiner’s toxicology report shows several drugs including fentanyl in Collins’ system.  The independent autopsy, however, shows drug tests were negative.   

“There are so many unanswered questions that I have, so many things I want to know,” Milburn said.

Christopher Collins, Sr., the veteran’s father, said he had questions, too.

 “I would like to know why they took my son’s brain and his spleen,” said Christopher Collins said.  “We didn’t authorize it and we have no idea. We just would like to know where is it and why they’re going to keep it. They say for a year. We need to know why.” 

Milburn also said that two jail officers—Officer A. Jimoh and D. Telford—have been charged with neglect/personal cell phone usage in connection with Collins’ death.

Milburn and family members held the press conference with Amos King, founder of Justice for Veterans.   

On Common Ground News has reached out to the DeKalb Sheriff’s Office for comment.