Billy's Story: A Cycle of Injustice and Loss

Billy’s story is one we’ve heard too many times. A man trapped in the cycle of homelessness, repeatedly arrested for trespassing—just trying to exist in a world that offers him no place to go. The system that should have protected him failed him at every turn, ultimately costing him his life.

Criminal trespassing, possession of drugs, and shoplifting are the most common charges we see among those we serve. Many of our people are banned from parks and other public spaces, leaving them with nowhere to go. The first few times they are arrested, they are often released quickly, given another chance. But those “chances” are just a revolving door back to jail. Missed court dates—due to lack of transportation, mental health struggles, or just trying to survive—lead to warrants, re-arrests, and longer jail stays.

Billy’s journey through this cycle ended in December 2020, when he was arrested again. At the time, he was recovering from a serious bicycle accident that left him with a broken leg and titanium rods in his leg. While in jail, his leg became severely infected. For two months, he begged for medical care. When he finally saw a doctor, he was told he needed immediate surgery. But no surgery came. Another month passed, and instead of being taken to a hospital, Billy was sentenced for criminal trespassing.

Despite being given a year in prison, Billy had already served enough time in jail to reduce his sentence to just one more month. He was transferred to state prison, where his worsening infection was ignored. He finally saw a doctor who prescribed him nothing more than aspirin. Five days later, on April 6, he was released.

On April 8, 2021, Billy, barely able to walk, made it to a hospital. He was immediately admitted with kidney failure, sepsis, and severe infection. That did not happen in 2 days. Emergency surgery was performed on April 9 to remove the titanium rods and try to save his life. He was able to video chat with his mother and sister in North Carolina, offering them hope that he was finally getting help.

The next day, Saturday, April 10, 2021, Billy’s heart stopped. At some point between 7:30 and 8:30 p.m., he coded, alone in a hospital room. We (family here in AZ.) hadn't seen Billy since sometime in 2019. We didn't know about the bike wreck, the jail and prison time, or that he was even in the hospital. We found out on April 9th that he was in hospital and had surgery. Planning to call him on Saturday, Billy died before we were able to call.

Billy’s death was preventable. He didn’t die because he was homeless. He didn’t die because of drugs. He died because the system repeatedly failed him.

Billy, we love you. We miss you. And we will keep fighting for those still trapped in this cycle—because no one should have to die the way you did.

Have you or anyone in your family or friends ever suffered injustice in the "justice" system?

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere-Martin Luther King Jr.

"Rules are like a road map that get you to the right city, but not the right street."-Barry Schwartz