An autopsy revealed that a North Carolina inmate died from dehydration after he was held in solitary confinement for 35 days.

On March 12, Michael Anthony Kerr was found unresponsive in the back of a van that was transporting him from the Alexander Correctional Institution in Taylorsville to a mental hospital located in the Central Prison in Raleigh.

An autopsy released Thursday shows that the 54-year-old inmate, who was diagnosed with schizophrenia, died of thirst. The report also states that he did not receive treatment for his mental illness, reports The Associated Press.

Now, Kerr's family is speaking out.

"Anybody that had a hand in murdering my brother, they need to go to jail," said Kerr's sister Brenda Liles to WNCN News on Friday.

Seven people were dismissed and two people resigned on Friday in the midst of the investigation into Kerr's death, however no one has been criminally charged.

According to Liles, her brother began exemplifying signs of mental illness after two of his sons were murdered.

She added that she wanted him to be housed in a mental facility rather than a prison.

"On the 3rd and the 4th, I was calling the prison and fighting for my brother. They said they were going to get him some medical attention, but they didn't do it," Liles said.

Kerr's wife plans to take legal action on behalf of her late husband, who was serving 31 years for larceny and assault after being convicted as a habitual felon in 2011.

Secretary Frank L. Perry, who ordered a thorough internal investigation and asked the SBI to review the death, said, "I am deeply saddened by Mr. Kerr's death."

Commissioner of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice W. David Guice, added, "From the start, we have been committed to finding out exactly what happened in this case and in taking appropriate administrative and operational actions."