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ABC 7 News has learned the medical examiner who performed the autopsy on a Prince George's County jail inmate who died in custody may be reviewing the case.
The autopsy revealed two broken bones in 19-year-old Ronnie White's neck, signs consistent with strangulation. Doctor Locke's preliminary report ruled White's death a homicide.
ABC 7 News' Brad Bell reported Wednesday that medical examiner Dr. James Locke visited the jail to examine the evidence, specifically including the inmate's bed sheet.
White, whose body was discovered Sunday in his cell, was charged with the murder of Prince George's County police Seargeant Richard Findley. Findley was laid to rest Thursday.
The investigation into White's death remains focused on three corrections officers, law enforcement sources have told ABC 7 News reporter Brad Bell.
It remains unclear whether any of the corrections officers who had refused to meet with investigators have changed their minds.
Corrections officials have said seven correctional officers and an undisclosed number of supervisors had access to cell where 19-year-old Ronnie White was found dead about 10:35 a.m. Sunday morning.
"My understanding is there have been some reservations by some of the correctional officers about giving statements. We're trying to work through that and see if we can get statements from everyone so we can get all the information that's out there," said Prince George's County State's Attorney Glenn Ivey on Wednesday.
In order to press the investigation, Vernon Herron, the Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Public Safety visited the jail's 6 a.m. roll call Wednesday, instructing officers to cooperate or face discipline, including possible suspension.
The county later sent out a letter to corrections officers, clarifying that they have a constitutional right to an attorney and the right to invoke the Fifth Amendment against self-incrimination. But the letter also threatened repercussions against officers who do not make themselves available to Maryland State Police or the FBI (web) .
"Failure of any individual to make themselves available to investigators will result in the county taking whatever appropriate actions are available under the law," the letter read, in part.
Brad Bell reports officers who don't cooperate are likely to be suspended.
Because White was a high-profile inmate, he was housed in the maximum security wing and corrections officers checked on him every thirty minutes. White's cell had been checked just twenty minutes before his body was discovered, corrections officials have said.
White's cell was reportedly within view of the posted assignments of several corrections officers, and within sight of other inmates.
Meantime protestors are planning a demonstration outside the county jail on Friday morning. A group calling itself the People's Coalition for Police Accountability says it hopes to draw attention to what it calls White's 'murder'.
The head of the county's NAACP (web|news) chapter held a news conference Wednesday to express its concerns about conditions in the jail.
"We do not want any citizen to feel that if they area arrested for anything in this county that they cannot be safe and secure in their person while they are in the detention center," said June White Ballard, Prince George's County NAACP president.
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