The nurse agrees to plead guilty in connection with the death of a Walker Co. inmate

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) – A member of the medical team responsible for caring for inmates at the Walker County Jail has agreed to plead guilty in connection with the in-custody death of Tony Mitchell.

According to federal court documents released on Wednesday, Daniel Wyers will plead guilty to deprivation of rights under the guise of the law.

Wyers is the sixth person to plead guilty in connection with Mitchell's death, which has been ruled a homicide.

According to a news release from the Walker County Sheriff's Office, Mitchell was arrested on January 12, 2023, after shooting at officers who were responding to a welfare stop.

According to federal documents, Mitchell “had difficulty walking or standing on his own…was disoriented, non-combative and unable to follow instructions” when he was booked into prison.

Wyers worked twice while Mitchell was in custody but did not complete an initial mental health screening, despite being specifically instructed by a nurse to undergo a psychiatric consultation, according to federal documents.

Wyers told investigators he saw Mitchell left naked and covered in feces in a cold cell but “took no steps to address it.” [Mitchell] He remained naked and without bedding in the cold cell, leaving him in cruel conditions for no reason.”

Wyers also said he agreed with others in prison who felt Mitchell should be punished “on the false assumption that this is the case.” [Mitchell] Targeted police officers before his arrest.”

He took no steps to provide care, did not alert superiors to the “unnecessarily harsh conditions” or asked why prison staff had told him that Mitchell was “too combative” to receive care, even though Wyers said He has never observed this behavior and stated that Mitchell is lucid at times.

The second time Wyers worked at the Walker County Jail, he was asked by the health services administrator to evaluate Mitchell, but he did not.

According to court documents, Wyers “reduced medical care.” [Mitchell] despite his objectively obvious need, because he had no interest in caring for someone he considered unworthy, and because he feared professional consequences if he offered care contrary to the supposed 'prevailing culture'.”

Wyers also told federal investigators that he did nothing that appeared to be helping Mitchell because he feared that Walker County Jail management would ask his employer to move him to another one, farther from his home to move to a distant prison, “which could mean an inconvenient journey for him.” ”

Federal court records say Wyers “completes the arrest.” [Mitchell] Living in atrocious conditions without access to medical and psychiatric care, he was purposeful and he purposefully participated in the effort.”

Mitchell died on Jan. 26, and a state autopsy determined his cause of death was hypothermia, which was contributed by sepsis from infected injuries during incarceration and medical neglect, according to federal records.

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