Luke Thornhill is set to be released from an Oregon prison in four years, but he fears he may not live that long. Thornhill, who has family waiting for him in Idaho, has been suffering from severe medical issues, including intense abdominal pain and bloody bowel movements, since at least 2022. Despite his worsening condition, he says he hasn’t received the necessary treatment.
Thornhill describes his symptoms as a constant pain, with his abdomen swollen to the size of a grapefruit on one side. He struggles to sleep and must be extremely careful with his movements and diet to avoid worsening his condition. Thornhill’s health issues began while he was incarcerated in Idaho, where he underwent a colonoscopy in 2022. However, since being transferred to federal prisons in Seattle and now Sheridan, Oregon, he hasn’t reviewed the biopsy results with any doctors.
Thornhill was sentenced to 80 months in federal prison on drug charges in March 2023. He has been pleading for medical treatment for over a year, but his requests have been largely ignored. The federal Bureau of Prisons BOP has declined to discuss Thornhill’s case specifically, citing privacy and security concerns.
Issues with prison healthcare are common, with nearly 5,000 federal prisoners having died from treatable conditions over the past decade due to delayed or inadequate medical care. In response to growing concerns, President Biden signed the Federal Prison Oversight Act in July 2023, which mandates routine inspections of all federal prison facilities.
The Sheridan prison, where Thornhill is currently held, has faced particular criticism for medical delays. In 2024, an investigation by the Justice Department revealed that staffing shortages had led to over 100 missed medical appointments and a backlog of lab tests. While the BOP claims to have made improvements, including hiring more staff and reducing the backlog, Thornhill and other inmates report that they are still not receiving the care they need.
Thornhill has made multiple requests for medical care, but he says only one of his requests is on record at Sheridan. He also alleges that officers pressured inmates to refuse X-rays, making the process uncomfortable and difficult. Despite these challenges, Thornhill finally saw a doctor and a cardiologist in mid-July 2024 after NPR inquired about his situation.
Thornhill’s situation has been further complicated by a recent lockdown at Sheridan, which restricted inmates to their cells for most of the day. Though the lockdown has since been eased, communication with his family has been limited. Thornhill’s mother, Nancy Richardson, who lives in Idaho, has been advocating for her son’s medical care, but her efforts have been hindered by the prison’s restrictive policies.
In early August, Thornhill was taken to an emergency room due to extremely high blood pressure. He has since returned to Sheridan, where he finally received an X-ray.