Three Milwaukee County Sheriff Jailers Charged In The Homicide Of Inmate Terrill Thomas Who Died From Thirst

Thomas had his water turned off in his cell for seven days and he died from the lack of drinking water.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

February 14, 2018

Milwaukee, WI - On Monday, Milwaukee County jail commander Major Nancy Evans, 48; Milwaukee County Sheriff Lt. Kashka Meadors, 40, and Milwaukee County Sheriff Corrections Officer James Ramsey-Guy, 38, were charged with the 2016 death of inmate Terrill Thomas, 38, who suffered from bipolar disorder was deprived of drinking water for seven days.  Evans was charged with one misdemeanor count for obstructing an officer and felony count misconduct in office, she is facing up to nine years in prison on both counts; Meadors and Ramsey-Guy were each charged with one felony each for neglect of resident in a penal facility, each is facing up to three years in prison. 

Thomas was arrested and booked at the Milwaukee County jail in connection with a shooting inside the Potawatomi Hotel and Casino on April 15, 2016 shooting. He was also wanted for shooting a victim earlier in the day at his mother's property. Thomas was later found dead on his jail cell on April 24 and an autopsy indicated he had died from dehydration (lack of drinking water) and the death was ruled a homicide by the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office.

A Milwaukee police investigation revealed that Evans failed to save a video showing Thomas's water being turned off and lied to investigators in order to cover-up the intent to shut off Thomas drinking water by Meadors. Meadors ordered Ramsey-Guy to shut the water off from Thomas's cell after Thomas used a mattress to flood the toilet. Ramsey-Guy failed to login the report of the incident and turning off the water or notify other supervisors and staff so, that they could monitor Thomas's condition while the water was off before it led to his death. Thomas had complained that he needed drinking water, but the jail staff ignored him, according to the investigation.
Four other county corrections officials who faced charges in connection with the Thomas death were identified as corrections officers Jordon Johnson, Thomas Laine, John Weber and Dominique Smith. Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm decided not to file charges against the four corrections officers.

Since the Thomas death, at least seven other deaths were reported at the Milwaukee County jail under Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke Jr. who resigned last year.

Update: Both Evans and Meadors have resigned, according to the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office.