Illinois paramedics charged with first-degree murder in death of patient strapped facedown on stretcher

• Two paramedics have been charged within the demise of a affected person who was strapped facedown to a stretcher.
• Earl L. Moore, Jr. died after the incident on December 18, 2022.
• The paramedics, Peter Cadigan and Peggy Finley, are each charged with first-degree homicide.

Prosecutors in Illinois have charged two paramedics with first-degree homicide within the demise of one among their sufferers, a person experiencing alcohol withdrawal who died after the paramedics strapped him facedown on a stretcher.

Peter Cadigan, 50, and Peggy Finley, 44, are each being held within the Sangamon County jail on a $1 million bond. They every have preliminary hearings scheduled for January 19, based on courtroom information.

The Springfield Police Division mentioned the incident started round 2 a.m. on December 18, 2022, when officers arrived at a residence and located that the 911 caller “was affected by hallucinations as a result of alcohol withdrawal,” based on a police assertion.

Physique digital camera footage launched by the police division exhibits the person, who has since been recognized as Earl L. Moore, Jr., in obvious discomfort and talking incoherently to officers. Moore will be seen all through the footage writhing on his mattress and afterward the ground.

Shortly after that, the paramedics arrived on the residence and instructed the person, who was mendacity on the ground, to stroll to the ambulance. 

“You are gonna should stroll, as a result of we ain’t carrying you,” Finley advised the affected person. “Trigger I’m significantly not within the temper for this dumb s—.”

Finley additionally ordered the affected person to “stand up, or you’ll be able to keep right here.”

The law enforcement officials ultimately helped Moore out of the home. Then, an officer and Cadigan positioned Moore onto a stretcher, the place he lay facedown. Cadigan and Finley can then be seen within the footage wrapping a sheet and straps round Moore, nonetheless facedown on the stretcher.

The Springfield Police Division’s assertion mentioned officers have been “later notified the affected person had handed after arriving on the hospital.”

The Illinois State Police has taken over the investigation into Moore’s demise.

‘Indifference is just not against the law,’ says one of many paramedics’ attorneys

An post-mortem report cited by CNN listed Moore’s reason behind demise as “compressional and positional asphyxia as a result of susceptible facedown restraint on a paramedic transportation cot/stretcher by tightened straps throughout again and decrease physique within the setting of lethargy and underlying power alcoholism.”

Finley’s lawyer, W. Scott Hanken, advised Insider his consumer intends to plead not responsible to the homicide cost, including that he had “no earthly thought how anyone in good religion may deliver these expenses primarily based on what I’ve seen,” and that his consumer dedicated no crime that night time.

When requested about Finley’s remarks heard on the physique digital camera footage, Hanken mentioned “indifference is just not against the law.”

“In the event that they’re criminalizing somebody having a foul angle, then they higher construct greater prisons,” he mentioned. “Name it bedside method, name it no matter you need. That is the crimson herring right here. Whether or not or not any person comes off as uncaring or unconcerned or comes throughout as a b—-, that is open to all people’s interpretation.”

Hanken famous that the police physique digital camera footage solely exhibits the officers and Cadigan inserting Moore on the stretcher — not Finley. He mentioned Finley solely positioned the sheet over Moore and introduced up one of many stretcher’s straps round Moore. Hanken mentioned Cadigan was the one who could possibly be seen on footage securing and tightening the straps.

“There is no such thing as a proof that she dedicated any affirmative act that might in any means, form, or type be attributable or deemed to be chargeable for that gentleman’s demise,” Hanken mentioned. 

Courtroom information for Cadigan didn’t title any authorized consultant or state whether or not he has retained an lawyer. The Springfield Police Division famous in its assertion that the law enforcement officials on the scene weren’t skilled or outfitted to help in transporting sufferers and relied on the paramedics to make sure his security.

“The Springfield Police Officers who responded to this incident acknowledged the affected person’s want and requested medical help for the affected person,” the assertion mentioned, including that the paramedics “acted indifferently to the affected person’s situation.”

Hanken declined to touch upon any particular actions the officers took that night time, asking solely, “Have you ever ever heard — ever — a situation the place a first-degree homicide occurred in entrance of three legislation enforcement officers and so they did nothing?”