3 Milwaukee County Jail Employees Charged In Inmate’s Death

Three jail employees in Milwaukee have been charged with felonies in connection to the death of an inmate who died in 2016 when the water in his cell was turned off for seven days.

Thirty-eight-year-old Terrill Thomas was being held in solitary confinement in the Milwaukee County Jail when jailers said he misbehaved, and they turned off the water in his cell. It was never turned back on. Thomas died seven days later of dehydration.

The former jail commander, Nancy Lee Evans, faces two felony charges for alleged misconduct in office and obstructing an officer. Two lower-ranking jail employees, Kashka Meadors and James Ramsey-Guy, each face a felony charge of neglecting an inmate.

Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm said Monday the three workers violated an expectation.

“Our expectation when Mr. Thomas was brought into custody is that he’d be kept safe. The allegations set forth in the criminal complaint document that that did not happen,” Chisholm said.

An inquest jury said last summer there was probable cause that seven jail officials committed a crime. But Chisholm said the other four won’t be charged.

Richard Schmidt who became acting Milwaukee County sheriff in September said several changes have been made to prevent a similar incident from happening again.

Schmidt took over as sheriff while Chisholm was investigating Thomas’ death.

Schmidt said he’s changed leadership at the county jail and made sure correctional and medical officers are checking in with inmates every day.

Three wellness officers have also been brought on board as staff.

“These are high paid captains, I put $500,000 worth of resources — people — into that jail to make sure that the inmates get the proper care that I’m mandated as the sheriff to make sure takes place,” Schmidt said.

Additional reforms in the county jail are still possible as two members of the National Institute of Corrections are expected to visit in a few weeks, Schmidt said.

Schmidt stepped into the role of sheriff after David Clarke left the job to become a spokesman of America First Action, a super PAC supporting President Donald Trump. Schmidt hopes to finish out the remainder of Clarke’s term.