2 Illinois EMS workers charged with murder in death of patient strapped to stretcher appear in court

The 2 EMS employees accused of killing a Springfield, Illinois, man of their care who died final month after they transported him strapped tightly facedown on a stretcher pleaded not responsible.

Peter J. Cadigan, 50, and Peggy J. Finley, 44, had been charged with homicide on Jan. 9 within the loss of life of Earl Moore, Jr., 35, on Dec. 18. They appeared in courtroom Friday afternoon, in response to NBC affiliate WAND of Decatur, Illinois.

Police had referred to as an ambulance to a house Moore was in the place he was in medical misery. An individual within the dwelling instructed officers that he was struggling alcohol withdrawals and having hallucinations, police stated.

Moore died shortly after the EMS employees positioned him on a stretcher within the susceptible place with tightened straps positioned on his again and decrease physique, Sangamon County State’s Lawyer Dan Wright stated. 

Moore died of compressional and positional asphyxia “as a result of susceptible face-down restraint on a paramedic transportation cot/stretcher by tightened straps throughout the again” and his loss of life was categorised as a murder, the county coroner concluded.

The duo appeared in Sangamon County Circuit Court docket for a preliminary listening to Friday morning

Each had been being held within the Sangamon County jail on bail of $1 million every. 

Wright stated they face 20 to 60 years in jail if they’re convicted. It was not instantly clear whether or not they have attorneys.

Moore’s household filed a wrongful loss of life go well with Thursday towards Cadigan and Finley and the ambulance firm they had been employed by, LifeStar Ambulance Providers. 

They’re represented by outstanding civil rights legal professional Ben Crump who stated this case is “in contrast to something we’ve seen in America.” 

Police had launched officer physique digicam footage of the incident that confirmed EMS employees failing to supply help in serving to Moore, who was unable to stroll, get to the stretcher. As soon as cops helped him exterior, the footage confirmed Cadigan and Finley place him face down on it. 

“While you take a look at that video, they provide no humanity to Earl Moore Jr. And that’s why this case is so distinctive,” Crump stated at a information convention Thursday. “That’s why individuals all throughout America are shocked that they’d deal with an incapacitated man like they did.”