A mother is tonight fearful for her son’s life after learning he was stabbed inside Westgate Correctional Facility last week—information she received not from prison officials, but from word circulating in the community.
Cheyenne Lema said her son was stabbed in the leg on Tuesday, June 10th, around 1 p.m. She was not contacted by prison staff and only heard about the incident two days later through contacts on the street. The lack of official communication has left her deeply concerned for her son’s safety and well-being.
“I didn’t get a phone call. I had to hear about my son getting stabbed from people in the streets,” Ms. Lema told TNN News in an emotional interview. “I called Westgate two days later on Thursday, June 12th, and spoke to a D.O. (Duty Officer), who told me he didn’t even know about it.”
When she asked about her son’s condition, Ms.Lema was told that he had not received hospital treatment because it “wasn’t that bad.” However, during a later phone call with her son, he revealed that the wound was severe—a deep gash in his leg that continued to bleed for two days.
“He said it only stopped bleeding that Thursday,” Ms. Lema explained. “He also told me an officer said, ‘because it’s you, Mr. Lima, we’re not taking you to hospital.’ That’s unacceptable.”
According to her son, some minor medical attention was provided inside the prison, but he never received proper hospital care or stitches for what he described as a deep wound.
Ms. Lema is now determined to take the issue further. “This is not the first incident my son has faced. Every time something happens, I’m told to call the D.O., but they never seem to have answers. I need to speak to someone higher.”
Adding to her fear, Ms. Lema said her son is now being housed in the same unit as the individual who previously threatened his life.
“That’s terrifying for me as a mother. The same person who wanted to take my son’s life is now on the same unit. What’s going to happen next?” she asked. “Yes, I am afraid for my son’s life. I’m not sleeping. I’m stressed.”
Her son, who was initially scheduled for release on April 25th, 2025, remains incarcerated due to difficulties finding employment—a requirement for his release. Ms. Lema said systemic issues with caseworker availability and missed opportunities have further delayed her son’s progress.
“He was supposed to be out in April. But every time he tried to schedule an appointment or line up a job, the caseworker wasn’t in or was off the island,” Ms. Lema said.
Visibly emotional, the mother made a heartfelt appeal to Attorney General and Minister of, Social Justice Senator Kim Wilkerson: “They need to put more effort into these young Black men. My son feels deteriorated. He’s crying, saying he wants to give up and stay until 2028. I told him, no, we’ll get through this.”
Ms. Lema, a single parent handling this crisis on her own, pleaded for change. “Right now, I don’t know who to turn to or what to do. It’s very scary. I just want my son to be safe.”
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