Mystery Surrounds Prisoner's Death After Suspected Spice Overdose
An inquest has begun into the tragic and mysterious death of a prisoner at HMP Birmingham, who was found in cardiac arrest in his cell on Halloween last year. Derrion Adams, aged 29, was discovered in his small, shared cell on K-wing on October 31, 2024, shortly after fellow inmates reported him appearing to be under the influence of drugs.
A Scene of Confusion and a Suspicious Vape
Birmingham Coroner's Court heard that when a prison officer first found Derrion, the presence of blood led them to believe he may have been the victim of a sustained assault. This suspicion initially fell upon his cellmate, who was subsequently arrested on suspicion of murder. However, a forensic post-mortem revealed a different story.
Area Coroner Emma Brown told the jury it was deemed "inconceivable" that a brutal assault could have occurred in such a confined space without the assailant getting any blood on them. Consequently, no further action was taken against the former cellmate.
During a search of the cell following Derrion's death, officers discovered a critical piece of evidence: a vape pen under his bed. The court heard it was suspected of being used to inhale spice, a potent synthetic cannabinoid also known as Black Mamba.
A 'Sensitive Soul' Struggling with Drugs and Mental Health
Derrion, who was from Wolverhampton and had been imprisoned since April 2024, was described by his grieving family as a "sensitive soul" with a "beautiful heart." His mother, Angela Price, revealed he had a history of mental health issues and drug abuse, and had become increasingly distressed during his time in prison.
In a poignant statement read to the court, Mrs Price said she had become "extremely worried" he would be hurt. She recounted their final phone call the day before his death, in which Derrion, who had just joined the prison choir, told her he loved her and unusually asked her to tell everyone else that he loved them too.
On the day he died, witnesses reported that Derrion had been seen 'staggering along the landing' outside the cells shortly after 4pm. One prisoner stated he "regularly did Black Mamba," while another claimed the substance on the wing was "a lot stronger than usual" and rumoured to be laced with the powerful opioid Fentanyl.
An Unascertained Cause and a Family's Grief
The initial autopsy left the cause of Derrion's death as "unascertained." While investigations have pointed towards toxicity from synthetic cannabinoids, the pathologist noted evidence that Derrion had vomited around the time of his death, but it could not be confirmed if this was a factor in his death.
His father, Phil Adams, paid a moving tribute, saying he felt "lucky to have so much time" with his son and that he would miss him terribly. The 11-person jury has been sworn in, and the inquest continues to piece together the final moments of Derrion Adams's life.
