9NEWS.com | Denver | Colorado's Online News Leader | Dept. of Corrections investigates inmate death, leaked photo
9NEWS.com | Denver | Colorado's Online News Leader | Dept. of Corrections investigates inmate death, leaked photo
STERLING - The Colorado Department of Corrections has launched an investigation into who sent 9Wants to Know a graphic investigative picture of a bloody inmate murdered in his cell at the Sterling Correctional Facility.
Two inmates have been separated from the general prison population and are under investigation in connection with the murder, 9Wants to Know has learned.
Sanguinetti was unable to say where in the prison the death happened or how Flood died, due to the on-going investigation. She also was unable to release the name of the suspects, but says they are inmates at the correctional facility.
Sanguinetti says the death is being investigated as a homicide, which is standard procedure at DOC facilities.
"This [the murder] is something we take very seriously," Sanguinetti said.
Flood's mother told 9Wants to Know that DOC employee Mary Cox first told her Flood did not die a bloody death.
"I asked her, 'Was there any blood?' She said, 'No there was no blood. There was nothing wrong with him. That's why we don't know if it was a homicide or suicide,'" Linda Sanchez said Tuesday.
A photo sent to 9Wants to Know showed the blood-covered scene where the victim was found. Blood covers one wall and a sink in the cell.
The DOC considers the picture very sensitive to its investigation, Sanguinetti said.
"When something like this happens it is hard on everyone: the victim's family, the staff who has investigated the incident and other inmates," Sanguinetti said of the crime scene photo being released.
The Logan County Coroner's Office says an autopsy was conducted, but the cause of death is pending the result of tests.
Flood is originally from Denver. He has an extensive criminal history, including seven burglary, one vandalism and one contraband convictions, plus two escape convictions for failing to check in during parole.
Sanchez says she wants more information from the prison and not knowing what happened to her son makes the pain stronger.
"I don't know what to do. That's my baby and it's hard. It's really hard," Sanchez said as she clutched a picture of her son.
"Now that he's gone, I sit here and pray for him," she said.
Sterling Correctional Center is the same prison where Douglas Alward escaped in August. In a 9Wants to Know investigation, the investigators showed it was Alward's seventh escape from custody.
When Alward was captured, the head of the Department of Corrections ordered a top-to-bottom review of guard and inmate security policies.
The DOC says there were four murders in their facilities statewide last year. The DOC houses about 23,000 inmates.
1 comment:
Comments haven't been coming through, so mine probably will just be seen by the moderator(s).
CDOC can begin by stopping the practice of plastering photographs of the convicted on the inmate locator, along with the charges. Some states have eliminated the instant availability to anyone who wishes to instigate a vendetta against the incarcerated. Maryland is one of those states that deny easy access to internet information.
Investigation could lead to unscrupulous individuals on the outside of the fences stirring up trouble for the prisoners.
I have stated it before at a CDOC meeting in Denver that much of the information so discrimately advertised should be left to only those who need to know. (Ex: law enforcement). Since the state of Colorado is unwilling to ease the tensions that exist by exposing all inmates to the whim of any manipulative, criminal minded, vindictive sociopath, I wouldn't hesitate for one moment to file a major lawsuit against the state of Colorado and their irresponsible, reckless policies if my Loved One were harmed in any way.
My sincere sympathies are with the mother, Ms. Flood, who must endure the painful knowledge concerning her adult child's murder. Bless her heart. I can't imagine her pain.
I know for a fact that many in the public are a huge concern for safety in and out of Colorado's prisons. Felony behavior is going on by many who lead deceptive, so-called 'upstanding' positions in society. Predatory, instigating characters who purposely cause chaos toward inmates need to be charged with felony actions upon a sincere investigation leading to their motives.
My donations to CCJRC continue in hopes that major, constructive overhauls in this system are corrected - fast.
Watching.
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