Crime & Safety

Grand Jury: Probe Deeper into Inmate's Death, Nurse's Charge Enhanced

A Douglas County grand jury recommends more investigations in the 2009 death of Rodney Neal Graham.

A Douglas County Grand Jury believes more investigation may be necessary to get to the bottom of the 2009 death of inmate Rodney Neal Graham, according to an article in the Douglas County Sentinel.

“The October 2011 Grand Jury recommends that charges be brought on any individuals suspected of negligence of duties, personal misconduct or reckless behavior as found in the Nov. 4, 2009 death of an inmate,” the report filed Friday reads, according to the Sentinel article. “We believe that further charges may be warranted for others as deemed necessary.”

The grand jury indicted Stephanie Evans on charges of involuntary manslaughter last Friday, upgraded from a .  Evans was a nurse at the jail. Another jail employee, Kelli Marie Brown, was also charged with reckless conduct at that time.

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"All along the family's main concern was pursuing the people who are responsible rather than monetary damages," Nicholas C. Moraitakis said, attorney for the Graham family.

"Young Kathy Graham, the widow, didn't want her husband to die in vain," he said. "We are all pleased by the enhanced charges. The doctor charged with setting up the policies clearly dropped the ball. I know what happened from a medial standpoint. The medical policies were weak and outdated. The record keeping was terrible and, in my opinion, bogus.

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"If the grand jury, with the assitance of the DA wants to continue, that's good enough for me," he said. "The family wants to get this behind them as much as they can; but if other folks bear responsibility I'm sure the family wants to have that explored."


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