In Birmingham, Alabama, a second jailer from Walker County has decided to enter a guilty plea to federal charges connected to the death of a mentally ill man who passed away from hypothermia after being detained naked in a concrete cell. The court documents reveal that Karen Kelly will plead guilty to violating the man’s rights under the color of law. The plea agreement notes that Kelly was worried about the dangerous conditions in the cell that jeopardized the man’s well-being but failed to report it to authorities beyond her supervisor due to concerns of facing repercussions.
The man, Tony Mitchell, aged 33, perished on January 26, 2023, after being transported from the Walker County Jail to a hospital emergency room in critical medical condition. His death was attributed to hypothermia and sepsis due to medical neglect. The plea agreement detailed that the concrete cell, known as the drunk tank, was extremely cold, with the bare cement floor being even colder. Mitchell spent much of his time in the cell naked and without basic necessities like a mat or blanket.
Kelly had requested twice for Mitchell to receive a mat or blanket but was instructed by a member of the command staff that Mitchell must continue under those harsh conditions. In a statement delivered to the media, Kelly’s defense attorney Brett Bloomston conveyed that his client took responsibility for her minor involvement in the tragic incident. He added that due to the jail’s culture, Kelly felt powerless to assist the inmate without the fear of retaliation. Kelly was terminated from her position at the jail after revealing footage of Mitchell being carried out unconscious.
Following his arrest on January 12, Mitchell, who struggled with drug addiction, died two weeks later after suffering a mental breakdown. The Walker County sheriff’s office shared on social media that Mitchell, with his face painted black, had brandished a handgun and fired a shot at deputies before escaping into the woods. Kelly is the second jailer to agree to plead guilty in connection with Mitchell’s death. Another jailer, Joshua Conner Jones, previously agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy to deprive an inmate of their rights.
Prosecutors noted in Jones’ plea agreement that when others would mention Mitchell’s deteriorating state, they would respond with insensitive remarks implying that he deserved what happened because he had shot at law enforcement. The agreement mentioned the involvement of five co-conspirators in the mistreatment that led to Mitchell’s death, hinting at an ongoing investigation with the potential for more individuals to face charges regarding the incident.