Seven Virginia police officers have been arrested and charged with second-degree murder in connection with the death of Kenyan Irvo Otieno, who prosecutors said was “mortally strangled” while in custody.
Kenya (aged 28), who lived in the United States, died on March 6 this year in a government mental health facility during the immigration process while being transferred from Henrico County Jail.
According to the mother of the deceased, Karolina Ouko, on March 3, one of her neighbors filed a complaint against her son, whom she considered mentally retarded.
Commonwealth’s Attorney Ann Cabell Baskervill said at a court hearing Wednesday, March 15 said that Otieno died of asphyxia due to being smothered to death.
“thanks to having at least seven people, including the defendant, on top of him and holding him down,” said Ann Cabell.
But before she can contact her son’s psychiatrist about a special transfer to a mental institution, the police surround his home and arrest Otieno after reports of a possible robbery.
They repordly handcuffed him and took him to the Henrico Doctors Hospital and finally to the Henrico County Jail.
Ouko suspects that Otieno died after being tortured by the officers of this prison and taken to a state mental hospital where he died.
Cable said it had 12 minutes of video footage showing Otieno being pinned to the ground for 12 minutes. The Otieno family’s lawyer, Mark Krudis, said he was treated harshly.
The family lawyer noted that “The family is truly grief-stricken after learning of the brutal nature of Irvo’s death and his inhumane treatment in the hours preceding his death. The public, and experienced mental health professionals alike, will be appalled when the facts of this case are fully made known.”
Otieno moved to the United States when he was four years old. The initial investigation revealed that he was taking medication for mental illness, but was unable to take it while in detention.
