According to reports, two correction officers at Prince George's County jail have been placed on paid leave after being identified as the key subjects of an investigation into the June death of a 19 year old inmate, Ronnie L. White.
County spokesman John Erzen declined to reveal the identity of the correction officers and when they were placed on leave. However, he did disclose that they had not been in the jail since last week.
The focus on the two comes after last week when the state medical examiner's office ruled that White was strangled. This report confirmed an earlier finding that his death was a homicide. According to the medical examiner's office the report pointed to a small broken bone in White's neck -- the hyoid -- as evidence that White did not commit suicide, which is what one corrections officer reported as what happened.
The medical examiner's final report, signed Thursday, said White probably had been strangled with a sheet, towel or crux of an elbow.
White had been charged with first-degree murder in the slaying of Cpl. Richard S. Findley, a decorated veteran. He was found unresponsive in his cell less than 48 hours after being charged in the death of the county police officer.
