Jail Death
■ INMATE HANGS INSIDE GROUP CELL
■ CAMERA MONITORING INADEQUATE
■ SECOND DEATH SINCE NOVEMBER
HENRIETTA – Two Ray County Jail suicides in less than five months build on others from previous years.
The ability of inmates to commit suicide while under jail supervision is no secret.
Ray County Sheriff Scott Childers pleaded with voters to build a safer jail, but in August 2021, they said no.
Since then, a stabbing using a piece of sheet metal ripped from a cell wall took place at the jail in October, a suicide took place in November and the latest suicide occurred Feb. 17. On that day, guards found William Moss, 52, rural Richmond, hanged in his cell.
Facing drug possession and domestic assault charges, but showing no suicidal tendencies, Moss had been placed in a cell with other inmates, Childers said. Jailers called for an ambulance while taking down Moss and trying cardiopulmonary resuscitation, Childers said Monday.
A person on suicide watch is under review every 15 minutes,…