Prisoner "basically baked to death" In Cell

A New York City prison guard accused of abandoning her post on the day a mentally ill inmate died in a 110F (37.7C) jail cell had reportedly done so before.

Carol Lackner, 34, was disciplined in 2010 for going absent in another part of the Rikers Island jail, according to documents obtained by the Associated Press. 

She was suspended for 30 days after the death on February 15 this year of a homeless former Marine, Jerome Murdough.

A city official has said Murdough "basically baked to death" when he was left unchecked for at least four hours in an area with a malfunctioning heater.

Homeless Jerome Murdough had been arrested for sleeping in a stairwell

Investigators allege that Ms Lackner left her post without permission 20 minutes before Murdough was found unresponsive in his cell. Her lawyer denies she did so.

The attorney also told the Associated Press the unrelated 2010 disciplinary matter was resolved after his client agreed to give up five holiday days.

Murdough was homeless and had been arrested a week earlier on a misdemeanour trespassing charge for sleeping on the roof of a Harlem public housing building.

He was sent to Rikers Island after being unable to make $2,500 (£1,500) bail, according to court records.

His 75-year-old mother is launching a $25m lawsuit against the city over her son's death.

Source: Criticalreboot