The mother of a Whitefield, Maine man who killed himself two years ago while being held at the Kennebec County Correctional Facility is suing a corrections officer and a nurse employed through a health-services contractor for failing to help prevent the suicide.
Tammy Norton of Whitefield has filed suit in Kennebec County District Court on behalf of her son, Jason Rozell, 24, who killed himself by twisting a bed sheet around his neck while in a maximum-security cell at the Augusta jail in April 2002.
Rozell's death led to widespread scrutiny of corrections procedures at the jail when it was learned his mother had called hours before his death to warn that her son was suicidal.
The Department of Corrections, Kennebec Sheriff's Office and the Augusta Police Department each investigated the case and came up with varying opinions on whether blame for Rozell's death should fall on the jail or the nurse who was treating Rozell.
Norton's attorney, Walter McKee, said it took two years to research the case because there were so many aspects to explore.
Norton's complaint lists two defendants: Patricia John of Vassalboro, a licensed practical nurse working at the jail through Allied Resources for Correctional Health at the time of Rozell's death; and Cathy Campbell of Farmingdale, a corrections officer also working at the jail at that time.
Norton's complaint alleges Rozell showed signs of severe depression after being incarcerated March 29, 2002, on a charge of operating under the influence. The complaint said Rozell called his mother on April 5, 2002, and said he might try to kill himself. Norton immediately informed jail staff members.
During the next two days, Rozell allegedly tried to kill himself and submitted a request for immediate psychological help, which was passed along to John the morning of April 8 -- the day Rozell died -- the complaint said.
The complaint alleges either John spoke with Rozell and failed to report the severity of his mental condition to corrections staff members, or John reported Rozell's condition and Campbell failed to have Rozell placed under suicide watch.
McKee said Norton believes that if a suit weren't filed, no one would accept responsibility for her son's death.
John denied the allegations against her in an answer Barri Bloom, a Portland lawyer, submitted to the court: Campbell also denied fault in Rozell's death, according to an answer submitted by her attorney, Michael Schmidt of Waterville.