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| Father of prison officer slain in escape bid sues state prisons |
| By Associated Press |
| Published: 06/13/2005 |
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The father of an officer killed during a botched escape attempt by inmates at a Punta Gorda prison in June 2003 has sued the state. The complaint alleges that the Florida Department of Corrections placed Darla Lathrem in danger by violating several of its own rules and policies. David Lathrem's wrongful death lawsuit seeks damages of more than $15,000, his attorney, Peter C. Burkert, said last Tuesday. Darla Lathrem was the only officer assigned to five prisoners carrying tools for construction work at the Charlotte Correctional Institution on June 11, 2003, according to the complaint, which was filed May 18 at the Charlotte County Courthouse. State investigators said three of the prisoners attacked Lathrem, beat her to death and stuffed her body into a locked mop closet. Prisoner Charles Fuston died several days later from injuries sustained in the attack. Lathrem was armed only with pepper spray and a radio. She was the first female officer ever killed in Florida. Inmates Dwight Eaglin, Michael Jones and Stephen Smith each were charged with two counts of first-degree murder. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty. A message left early last Wednesday at the Department of Corrections was not immediately returned. The Department of Corrections acknowledged in a lengthy administrative review that prison administrators ignored six policies the night of the escape attempt. DOC Secretary James Crosby reprimanded a handful of officers and administrators, and Warden Warren Cornell resigned. Fuston's family filed a lawsuit against the Department of Corrections in October claiming that policy violations at Charlotte Correctional Institution led to his death. |
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