(WWJ) – Eight former and current employees of a prison in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula have been charged in connection with the 2019 death of an inmate, Attorney General Dana Nessel announced Tuesday.
The AG’s office says Lancaster stopped eating and drinking while incarcerated at Alger Correctional Facility, just south of Munising in the Central U.P., and was placed in an observation cell and in restraints.
Lancaster remained restrained in the cell until he died three days later on March 11, 2019. He had been in prison for robbery and gun crimes in Wayne County, according to the Associated Press.
Despite losing more than 50 lbs. in 15 days, widespread knowledge of his deteriorating state, and Michigan Department of Corrections policies, Lancaster received no emergency medical attention until after his death, according to Nessel’s office.
Four registered nurses who attended to Lancaster in his final days, two corrections officers present at the time of his death, and both the former Acting Warden Scott Sprader and Assistant Deputy Warden Benny Mercier have been charged.
In addition to Sprader and Mercier, the four former MDOC nurses – Paul Zelenak, Nathan Moser, Barnard Bedient and John Crane have all been charged with involuntary manslaughter, a 15-year felony.
Former MDOC Sargent Jason Denman and MDOC Officer Shawn Brinkman have each been charged with misconduct in office, a five-year felony.
Lancaster’s sister, Danielle Dunn, tells WWJ she spent the last several years working to make sure his case wasn’t forgotten, saying some MDOC officials would yell “we’re not talking about that person, we’re not talking about that name,” when it was brought up in meetings.
“They were looking for it to be buried, they wanted it to go away. They never wanted to hear that name again,” Dunn said.
Dunn mentions the case bounced between multiple prosecutors because of conflicts of interest before charges were finally brought.
"This death was a preventable tragedy that played out over days and under the defendants’ supervision,” Nessel said, per a press release. “These are serious, and numerous, charges that reflect the broad culpability the defendants shoulder in the death of Johnathan Lancaster. The eight defendants had a responsibility for the care and well-being of those in their custody, and my office will continue to rigorously pursue accountability when that is not met.”
The investigation of this case was conducted by Michigan State Police.
“I raised my brother from a very young age. We had a very rough life and I raised him. I was more of a parent to him, so to speak. And the last thing I could imagine doing was learning how he died such a torturous death and letting that go. There was no way I was gonna let that happen.”
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