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Prison workers, warden charged in inmate death

Eight prison employees have been charged with the death of an inmate in Alger county, in the U.P.

In a written release, the Attorney General’s office said four nurses, two corrections officers, the assistant deputy warden and the former Acting warden face criminal charges in the 2019 death of Jonathon Lancaster.

Officials say Lancaster had stopped eating and drinking and was placed in an observation cell in restraints. He died three days later. The A.G’s office says prison officials offered no medical attention to the man. They call his death a “preventable tragedy that played out over days and under the defendants’ supervision.”

The eight employees all face felony charges in Lancaster’s death, two face misconduct in office, the other 6 face involuntary manslaughter, which carries a penalty of 15 years in prison.