Nevada inmate was pepper-sprayed and held face down before he died. His death was ruled a homicide
An autopsy report shows that a Nevada prisoner died after he was pepper-sprayed, shackled and held face down
LAS VEGAS (AP) — A Nevada prisoner died after he was pepper-sprayed by guards, shut in a storage room, shackled and restrained with his face to the ground, according to an autopsy report obtained by The Associated Press.
Patrick Odale's death on Dec. 28, 2023, at the Southern Desert Correctional Center has been ruled a homicide.
The autopsy report finalized in late August follows a nearly nine-month coroner investigation into Odale's death at the mostly medium security prison near Las Vegas. The Clark County coroner's office found Odale, who was 39, died of “ positional and mechanical asphyxia in the setting of law enforcement restraint."
Michael Freeman, an Oregon-based forensic pathology expert who was not involved in the investigation, said “mechanical and positional asphyxia" typically happens when a person is restrained while face down with their hands behind their back, as pressure is placed on their torso, arms or neck.
