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The family of George Thacker, the former Rhea County executive who was sentenced to prison after his guilty plea in a federal fraud case and died in prison, has filed a federal lawsuit after his death on December 26, 2022.

Thacker was sentenced to 33 months in prison and fined more than $665,000, to be followed by three years of probation for his crime.

According to the legal firm representing the family, prison officials ignored his repeated complaints and failed to treat the medical condition that led to his death.

They also say Thacker “presented as ill and had difficulty walking from the day he walked into FPC-Edgefield,” which is the federal prison in Edgefield, SC.

The lawsuit maintains that Tacker complained of abdominal pain, but was not given a physical or tests, and was sent back to his dorm with ibuprofen.

Thacker died the next morning from complications from a perforated duodenal ulcer and peptic ulcer disease, according to the law firm.

Thacker attended Roane County High School. He then moved to Rhea County where he started Thacker’s Body Shop. He later opened five Express Lubes, started Thacker Corporation, building the strip mall in Spring City, The Grand Hotel, Winsteads Restaurant, and Simply Bank. Thacker was the longest serving County Executive in Rhea County, serving four terms.