Kansas Sheriff’s Deputy Charged with Murder in Inmate’s Death
A Kansas sheriff’s deputy, Richard Fatherley, has been charged with second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter in the death of a jail inmate, Charles Adair, who sustained broken ribs after his back was kneeled on, according to an autopsy report. The incident occurred on July 5 at the Wyandotte County detention center in Kansas City, Kansas.
Wyandotte County District Attorney Mark Dupree announced the charges, stating that Adair, 50, had been arrested on misdemeanor warrants for failure to appear on multiple traffic violations. The autopsy report revealed that Adair was being removed from his wheelchair when he got into an altercation with jail staff, resulting in one officer kneeling on his back. Adair suffered from broken ribs, a sternal fracture, and his manner of death was listed as homicide due to complications from “mechanical asphyxia.”
While Dupree declined to specify whether Fatherley was the officer who knelt on Adair’s back, he confirmed that no one else would be charged in connection with the incident. The autopsy report also noted that Adair had pre-existing cardiovascular disease and cirrhosis, which contributed to his death.
Investigation and Charges
The sheriff’s office declined a records request from The Associated Press seeking video of the incident. Dupree stated that all information in the case would be reviewed by a judge at the preliminary hearing and then made available in court. Fatherley, who was assigned to the detention center but was not a certified law enforcement officer, is on paid administrative leave and has not been booked into jail.
Fatherley’s attorney, James Spies, argued that the second-degree murder charge requires the state to prove that the defendant showed an extreme indifference to life, which he claims is not applicable in this case. Spies also noted that the prosecutor’s alternative charge is involuntary manslaughter, which requires proof that a defendant acted with “typical” recklessness. The case has sparked concerns about the use of force by law enforcement, with Nikki Richardson, executive director of Justice for Wyandotte, questioning the justification for the use of the shoulder pin maneuver in this incident.
Reaction and Next Steps
Adair’s family has expressed gratitude for the charges being filed but is seeking transparency, including access to camera footage of the incident. The case is expected to proceed to a preliminary hearing, where the judge will review the evidence and determine whether to proceed with the trial. Any conviction on a second-degree murder charge carries a sentence of up to 41 years in prison, while a manslaughter conviction carries up to 11 years.
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