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Letter: Logan Mott's mother pleads for better medical care in jail for 'starving' son

The mother of Logan Mott, the Neptune Beach teen jailed for allegedly killing his grandmother, said the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office isn't properly managing his diabetes and his situation is "extremely dangerous."

In a Dec. 9 letter to JSO, Carrie Mott also said Logan belongs in a juvenile facility where his medical condition might be better monitored.

Mott said her son, a Type 1 diabetic, is not being properly monitored overnight. She insists his insulin pump, which stabilizes blood sugar, creates no potential for self-harm and should be given back to him.

"It is clear to me that Logan's medical needs are not being met," Carrie Mott said. She blames JSO detectives for putting her 15 year-old son in jail rather than a juvenile facility. "This is a child. A child who has not been tried or convicted and deserves to be innocent until proven guilty and treated as such," she wrote.

Police said Logan stabbed and shot his grandmother Kristina French last month and then fled in her car. He was captured near the Canadian border Nov. 24 and is being held in isolation and without bond on adult charges of second-degree murder and grand theft auto.

In response to the letter, Logan's attorney, Charlie Cofer, told Action News Jax he doesn't think Carrie Mott is asking for special attention and that she has a valid concern for her son's situation because of his diabetes

Cofer said there are limitations on what he can say due to medical privacy concerns.

The attorney said he had been talking to the jail director who he says is "very aware of his medical condition."

The attorney declined to comment on the possibility of relocating Logan to a juvenile facility.

Mott told Action News Jax she filed a complaint with the Florida Department of Corrections Friday as well as emailed the Jacksonville city council and filed an internal complaint with JSO.

She also said she plans on filing a complaint with the Florida ACLU.

Here's the unedited letter Carrie Mott send to JSO: 

This is Carrie Mott, Logan Motts mother. I've had some serious concerns over Logans medical care and wanted to contact you first. I brought it to Mr. Cofers attention and called the medical line and left a message but never received a call back.

Logan informed me he has not been getting checked overnight for his insulin. This is extremely dangerous. Over 50% of Type 1 diabetes have at least one hypoglycemic episode per week.

Hypoglycemia can happen quickly and when under emotional stress even quicker. At 40 or below a person can be comatose which could lead to death. Logan is asleep and isn't aware of what is going on so he's unable to get help. Logan could also have complications affecting his heart (decreased heart rate, decreased cardio output, myocardial contractinility, blood vessels (stroke, myocardial infarction, acute cardiac failure, ventricular arrhythmia, and brain (seizures, convulsions, coma).

If Logan had his insulin pump this would all be regulated and an alarm would go off if he were getting high or low. We understand why it was taken (although if you've seen the device you would see that there's nothing that could be used to self harm), electing to take that from him means he has to be closely monitored. "Looking in on him" will not accomplish proper monitoring. You can only tell his blood glucose by testing it. Therefore it is critical he is being tested and has some device that monitors him overnight. There are devices that do that out there. Personally, it would be a lot easier on your staff and Logan if he were allowed his pump back. It will monitor him every 5 minutes and send read outs to an online system immediately so it will tell you if he's going dangerously high or low.

Logan told me he is also not being tested correctly (testing too soon and too late after eating is bouncing his insulin all over) this will make him very tired and creates lots of physical issues like nerve problems. Having his blood sugar up and down so much for long periods is dangerous. It creates nerve problems and nerve damage. It also affects his core temperature. He says he is freezing which is a clear sign his insulin is not being controlled properly. He needs to stay warm. Circulation is a serious problem with diabetics. I asked Mr. Cofer to ask for possible thermals under his jumpsuit, extra socks and blankets (I know he has asked), but that still has not happened.

Logan says he's starving. He says they are trying to monitor his diet. Diet has nothing to do with Logans diabetes. He is a type 1, not a type 2. Type one cannot be prevented. Type 2 can be prevented and even stopped with proper diet and exercise.

Starving him is not helping him. No matter what he eats he has to dose. All he needs to know is the amount of carbs and he can dose for it.

It is clear to me that Logans medical needs are not being met. His diabetes is being treated as Type 2 instead of what he has which is Type 1. It is very dangerous to not be monitoring this disease properly. To say that I'm concerned is an understatement.

With all of that being said I want to be clear that I believe the corrections side of JSO is doing the best they can. Logan has said he has been treated properly by everyone in corrections. That is deeply appreciated. This is an awkward situation for everyone. It's a position I believe that the Corrections side should not have been involved in due to the extreme medical precautions, the sensitive nature of this case, your Lt's involvement, and the mere fact that this is a child.

If you can't tell I am very displeased by the Police side. The fact that they have a tendency to place children in jail rather than detention facilities where they are smaller and can medically and psychologically monitor children more carefully is beyond me. The mere fact that the other side literally mean "tweets" and treats detaineees like side show acts publishing every action gleefully like a supermarket tabloid is the most unprofessional sickening national inquirer behavior many have ever seen.

This is a child. A child who has not been tried or convicted and deserves to be innocent until proven guilty and treated as such. He should not be in a jail, he should be in a juvenile facility where he won't need "protective custody" AKA solitary confinement.

This is a child of a brother in blue. With zero criminal history. What has happened to our humanity?

These are issues for the other side. But on your side I would ask that you intervene medically for my child's safety. Logan is in medical danger and I understand it is out of ignorance of his disease but unfortunately the detectives have placed this burden on your faculty and it needs to be taken care of immediately.

I have shown you the respect of only emailing you. I come from a military family and a family in blue. We are avid supporters of police and corrections. It's why I'm so disappointed in what's been done. But I wanted to give you the opportunity to step in. However, this is a serious medical issue and I will have no choice but to run it up the chain if I hear nothing back.

I apologize for you and your officers positions. I can't imagine how hard this is. Trust me, this is very hard on us as well. I've never been so heart broken. Our family is in the deepest pain imaginable. Please understand my intent is good and my only concern is Logan. I'm fighting for my child like any mother would.

Ultimately, I don't believe you all should be in involved in this. Logan should have gone to a juvenile faculty. I place that burden right where it belongs on those detectives. Some people have forgotten there can be compassion along with law enforcement.

Thank you for your time.

Respectfully, 
Carrie Mott