|
|
| Prisoner dies after accidental fall from bed |
| By Daily Journal |
| Published: 05/09/2005 |
|
A Nineveh woman being held in the Johnson County (Ind.) jail died Saturday hours after falling from an upper bunk in her cell. Miestrella C. "Misty" Morning, 42, was found dead about 6:30 a.m. in a cell bed, about 14 hours after jail officers said she fell after trying to get down from the top bunk. Johnson County Sheriff Terry McLaughlin declined to elaborate Sunday about Morning's death, providing only details released in a statement the day before. "We're still reviewing exactly what happened," he said. "You always ask yourself if there was something that could have been done better or differently, but it's still too early to say that." An autopsy performed Saturday in Indianapolis showed Morning's death was accidental and caused by internal abdominal injuries, Johnson County Coroner David Lutz said. Lutz said Morning was bruised on her left side. He also said she had a bump and bruises on the back of her head, but they did not contribute to her death. After interviewing other inmates, jail officers and medical staff, Lutz said he pieced together a timeline of what happened. At 4:35 p.m. last Friday, a jail officer who was delivering meal trays to inmates saw Morning fall from a bunk about 6 feet off the ground, Lutz said. The worker helped Morning up from the cement floor and into a wheelchair and took her to the jail nurse, he said. Morning was treated and given an icepack, but she refused further help before walking back to her cell, Lutz said. About 8 p.m., Morning started complaining of back pain and was taken back to the nurse and then sent to Johnson Memorial Hospital, Lutz said. She was treated and released, but details of her care were not released. "She had plenty of medical assistance," Lutz said. "But she was determined well enough to be released." Still later, she started having headaches and vomiting. She was sent back to the hospital's emergency room about 10:30 p.m., Lutz said. Lutz said she was returned to the jail about 1 a.m. When a jail officer made rounds about 5 a.m., he called to Morning, who was being kept in holding cell. She responded, Lutz said. But less than two hours later, she was found dead in the cell. Lutz said Morning had other medical issues that might have played a part in her death, but he would not discuss her medical treatment or history. |
MARKETPLACE search vendors | advanced search
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
|
Comments:
No comments have been posted for this article.
Login to let us know what you think