Lynton Ryan's family wait for answers on how he died in custodyBy Hayden SmithABC GoldfieldsTopic:Black Deaths In Custody1h ago1 hours agoSun 4 May 2025 at 11:05pmLynette and Shannon Smith are frustrated by a lack of information about Lynton Ryan's death. (Supplied)In short:Lynton Ryan, 31, died in custody in Kalgoorlie-Boulder last month.Family preparing for a funeral say they have no clear indication about the circumstances of Lynton's death.What's next?It could be years before a coronial inquiry provides closure.abc.net.au/news/lynton-ryan-aboriginal-death-in-custody-kalgoorlie/105238060Link copiedShareShare articleAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this article includes the name and image of a person who has died, used with the permission of their family.On the morning of Thursday April 3, Lynette Smith was woken by three police officers knocking on her front door.Before long, Ms Smith was sitting down being informed that her youngest son, Lynton Ryan, had died."I just broke down," the 61-year-old told the ABC."I was in a deep shock."The previous afternoon, Mr Ryan had been found unresponsive in his cell at Eastern Goldfields Regional Prison in Kalgoorlie-Boulder, 600 kilometres east of Perth.Lynton Ryan, 31, died after being found unresponsive in his cell. (Supplied)Staff and first responders's efforts to revive the 31-year-old were unsuccessful.In a statement, the Department of Justice said "preliminary reports indicate there were no suspicious circumstances".If you or anyone you know needs help:Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467Lifeline on 13 11 14Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander crisis support line 13YARN on 13 92 76Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636Headspace on 1800 650 890ReachOut at au.reachout.comMensLine Australia on 1300 789 978QLife 1800 184 527While Ms Smith believes her son took his own life, she and her eldest son Shannon Smith are still waiting for answers."What happened in the last two hours?" Mr Smith said."What is the exact cause of the death?"Mr Smith said he also wanted to know how his younger brother "fell through the cracks in the system" to be found "dead in his cell"."I looked at that cell," he said, after visiting the prison for a cultural smoking ceremony."It's a terrible place to die."'Why do we have to wait for so long?'Mr Ryan was born in Port Pirie, South Australia, in 1993.Mr Smith said his brother "loved a laugh" and enjoyed rock music.However, he "fell into the wrong hands" after developing a marijuana habit at a young age.A large part of Mr Ryan's life was spent behind bars, having been an inmate at Perth's Hakea and Acacia prisons before being transferred to Kalgoorlie-Boulder.MR Ryan was an inmate at Eastern Goldfields Regional Prison. (ABC Goldfields: Robert Koenig-Luck)In 2023, the Kalgoorlie Magistrates Court heard that he had a history of violent offending.But Mr Smith said his brother had recently been living in Kalgoorlie and, on this occasion, was only in prison for three days prior to his death.It is understood he had been taken into custody for disorderly behaviour in town."What crime did he do to go to jail for three days? Did he physically harm anyone?" Mr Smith said.Deaths in custodyPhoto shows Alec at Palm IslandOn the short ferry ride from Townsville to Palm Island, Alec Doomadgee prepared himself for cultural work marking the 20th anniversary of his brother's death.Under West Australian law, any death in custody is subject to a mandatory coronial investigation.Ahead of Mr Ryan's funeral later this month, Mr Smith said he feared it could take years before they knew exactly how he died."They have CCTV — why do we have to wait for so long?" he said."Our mother's health is not good. She won't be around forever."The Department of Justice said it "does not comment on circumstances surrounding a matter that is subject to a coronial inquest".Indigenous deaths approach 600Suicide prevention researcher and human rights advocate Gerry Georgatos said Mr Ryan's family deserved answers."He had mental health battles and they were always unaddressed in his experiences of going in and out of prison like it's a turnstile," he said.It has now been 34 years since the final report was tabled for the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody.Gerry Georgatos says the prison system is broken. (ABC News: Jake Sturmer)Throughout this time there have been 590 Indigenous deaths in custody.Mr Georgatos said the number of young Indigenous prisoners who were dying of unnatural cause was concerning.In 2022-'23 the median age of deaths in custody among First Nations prisoners was 43, compared to 67 for non-Indigenous prisoners."First Nations prisoners are dying younger," Mr Georgatos said."When they are dying in their 20s and 30s questions have to be asked."Recommendation number 329 of the royal commission report, which called for a national standards body to draft legislation that would ensure prisoners's rights, was not accepted by the Australian Senate.Mr Georgatos said legislating the rights of prisoners nationwide would help stem the flow of deaths in custody."What we don't want to see is hundreds more die in the decade ahead and thousands [more] be impacted," he said."If we don't give prisoners rights we're not going to transform lives."Posted 1h ago1 hours agoSun 4 May 2025 at 11:05pm, updated 47m ago47 minutes agoSun 4 May 2025 at 11:25pmShare optionsCopy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter)If you need someone to talk to, call:Lifeline on 13 11 14Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800MensLine Australia on 1300 789 978Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467Beyond Blue on 1300 22 46 36Headspace on 1800 650 890QLife on 1800 184 527Top Stories'Laughable policies': Voters explain what went wrong for CoalitionTopic:ElectionsPhoto shows A young couplePM returns to Canberra as process to pick new frontbench beginsLIVEThe message to the Coalition is clear: This is not John Howard's AustraliaPAnalysis by Patricia KarvelasPhoto shows Anthony Albanese holds up his hands to calm the crowd.Liberal MP slams leadership contender Angus TaylorTopic:Liberal Party of AustraliaPhoto shows Hollie Hughes dstopFirst Canada, then Australia: Trump is toxic for conservatives everywhereAAnalysis by Alan KohlerPhoto shows man with a bald head and glasses faces a man with blond hairRelated storiesIndigenous man dies in custody at Goldfields prisonTopic:Black Deaths In CustodyPhoto shows The fences around the prison project shadows. 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