Trans Woman Found Dead in Male Prison Cell at Parkhurst
A transgender inmate has been found dead inside her cell at Parkhurst prison on the Isle of Wight. Martin Eatough, 35, who also went by Jade and was undergoing hormone treatment as part of her gender transition, was discovered unresponsive during a 5am check on August 19.
Fourth Trans Prisoner Suicide Behind Bars in Recent Years
Eatough’s death marks the fourth suicide of a transgender prisoner housed in a male jail in recent years. An insider revealed, “She was not on suicide watch and was living normally.” When an officer got no response during a routine check, they entered her cell and found her. Paramedics attempted to resuscitate her but she was pronounced dead at 5:45am.
Despite living as a woman and taking hormone replacements, Eatough had not undergone gender reassignment surgery and was not under ACCT (Assessment, Care in Custody and Teamwork) suicide supervision at the time.
Tragic Pattern of Transgender Suicides in Male Prisons
This tragedy follows criticism of the Prison Service after several suicides of transgender inmates in male jails:
- November 2015: Joanne Latham was found hanging in her cell at high-security Woodhill Prison, Milton Keynes.
- October 2015: Vikki Thompson, 21, took her own life at HMP Leeds.
Convicted Rapist Serving Life Sentence
Eatough was serving a life sentence for two horrific sex attacks in Blackburn in June 2005. In one attack, she indecently assaulted a 19-year-old outside her home, and less than two hours later raped a 15-year-old near Blackburn town centre.
During sentencing, Judge Slinger warned of a “real and significant risk” of further serious offences, highlighting the severity and terror caused by Eatough’s crimes.
Prison Service Response and Ongoing Investigation
The Prison Service explained that prisoners are usually held according to their legal gender unless holding a gender recognition certificate. They confirmed: “HMP Parkhurst prisoner Jade Eatough died in custody on Saturday 19 August 2017. As with all deaths in custody, there will be an independent investigation by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman.”
If you have been affected by the issues raised in this article, you can call the Samaritans freephone on 116 123 for support.
