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Louisiana Officers Indicted Over Death of Young Mother in Custody

Court finds Nimali Henry's medical needs were ignored.

This past Thursday, a federal jury indicted four Louisiana corrections officers for the murder of Nimali Henry, a nineteen-year mother who died behind bars back in April 2014. Henry had been incarcerated for ten days for disturbing the peace, simple battery, and unauthorized entry during an altercation between her daughter’s father and his girlfriend.

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Henry’s bail post had been set at $25,000, which the family could not afford, causing her to stay behind bars. While under custody, she was found lying face down in an isolation cell. Henry’s sister, Deshawna Henry, says she had informed the officers that Nimali required medication for a blood disorder, "I tried to let them know about how sick she was, and they wouldn't listen to me."

According to reports, a doctor never evaluated Henry nor was she given any medication. The indictment also declared that the officers lied to FBI agents investigating the case. Capt. Andre Dominick, Cpl. Timothy Williams, Deputy Debra Becnel and Deputy Lisa Vaccarella were indicted for deliberately ignoring Henry's medical needs of Henry, resulting in her death.

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