“Gun Death” Overheated Cell

Details are a little thin on this one:

The warden of the 2,100-inmate New York City jail where a mentally ill veteran “baked to death” in an overheated cell in February has been demoted and transferred to another unit that doesn’t house mentally ill inmates.

…Murdough, who was on anti-psychotic and anti-seizure medication, was found dead in the early hours of Feb. 15, four city officials told the AP. More tests are needed to determine exactly how he died, the medical examiner’s office said. But the officials, all with detailed knowledge of the case, said preliminary findings point to extreme dehydration.

He was not checked on for at least four hours and didn’t open a small vent-like window in his cell to let in cool air, Cranston testified.

Still the staff changes indicates that proper procedures and maintenance were NOT followed leading to this man’s death. Also the departed’s crimes are irrelevant to this story, he was being incarcerated, and he was NOT sentenced to death, so if he indeed died of negligence this is bad justice.

Still what WAS he in for?

Murdough was arrested on a misdemeanor trespassing charge on the night of Feb. 14 after police found him sleeping in the stairwell of a public housing building and was sent to Rikers Island after being unable to post $2,500 bail, according to court records.

Wow, hey at least a guard didn’t shoot him, right?

H/T Whipped Cream Difficulties

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2 Responses to “Gun Death” Overheated Cell

  1. rd says:

    It would be front page news if it was a dog that was mistreated like that.

    But its only a poor, sick human being with psychiatric issues. We are a much better society since we closed all the asylums and gave all the patients the freedom of the streets. Now when they need treatment, they can get it by committing a crime and being thrown into jail. After all, a prison or jail filled with criminals is a much more humane than a mental asylum for people with mental health issues.

  2. Archer says:

    Insert old yarn about judging a society by how it treats its prisoners here.

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