RICHMOND, Virginia – Second-degree murder charges against two sheriff’s deputies and a hospital employee were reduced to manslaughter in the death of a Virginia man who was pinned to the floor for about 11 minutes while being admitted to a state psychiatric hospital.
The downgrade of charges in the 2023 death of Irvo Otieno comes just weeks after prosecutors dropped charges against five other sheriff’s deputies, a move criticized by Otieno’s family.
Otieno, a 28-year-old Black man, died in March 2023 after being detained by Henrico County sheriff’s deputies and hospital staff while he was admitted to State Central Hospital. Prosecutors initially charged 10 people with second-degree murder, but dropped charges against a total of seven people, leaving just three people facing prosecution.
On Wednesday, an amended indictment was filed downgrading the charge to manslaughter against two sheriff’s deputies, Brandon Rodgers and Kaiyell Sanders, and hospital employee Wavie Jones, according to online court records.
Dinwiddie County Commonwealth’s Attorney Amanda Mann did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment. Doug Ramseur, Jones’ attorney, and Linwood Wells, Sanders’ attorney, declined to comment. Attorney Michael W. Lee, who represents Rodgers, did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.
Otieno was taken into custody in suburban Richmond during a mental health crisis. He was initially transported to a private hospital but was later arrested after law enforcement officials said he became combative. He was then transferred to the State Central Hospital, where he was restrained during the admission process.
His death was captured on video, sparking outrage and calls for mental health and law enforcement reforms. The State Medical Examiner’s Office ruled Otieno’s death a homicide, concluding that he died of “positional and mechanical asphyxia with restraints.”
Mark Krudys, an attorney representing Otieno’s family, did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.
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