The family of Richard T. Flippin, a young man who died last week at Howard R. Young Correctional Institution (HYRCI) in Wilmington, is demanding answers after reporting that he repeatedly sought medical care for severe pain in the weeks leading up to his death — but was never provided the urgent treatment they believe could have saved his life.
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According to relatives, Richard T. Flippin suffered a left-side injury while playing basketball several months ago. In the weeks before his death, his symptoms reportedly escalated, including severe abdominal and hip pain and dark, discolored urine. Family members say he notified correctional officers and medical staff multiple times and was given an X-ray, but no follow-up testing, specialist evaluation, or outside medical care was provided.
The family reports that Richard made multiple phone calls home expressing that his condition was worsening and that he was not receiving proper treatment. After relatives called the prison directly requesting that he be transported to a hospital for further evaluation — including a potential MRI — they were told the issue would be addressed. According to the family, he was never taken for outside medical care.
Compounding their grief, the family says they were not notified by HYRCI of Richard T. Flippin’s death. Instead, they learned what happened only after calling the facility themselves.
The family is now calling for full transparency regarding the timeline of Richard’s medical complaints, the actions of correctional and medical staff, and the circumstances surrounding his death. They are also demanding an independent investigation into HYRCI’s medical protocols, emergency response procedures, and communication failures with families of incarcerated individuals.
Relatives describe Richard T. Flippin’s death as preventable and reflective of broader concerns about inadequate healthcare within Delaware’s correctional system. They are urging the community, advocates, and state leaders to help shine light on the case as they pursue accountability and justice.
