BEULAH -- Two Benzie County corrections officers received written discipline following a jail inmate's suicide.
Edward D. Baughman wove a bed sheet through a vent grate in his cell and hanged himself during a corrections staff shift change lockdown on Aug. 28. The Elberta resident, 49, was in jail on a domestic violence charge when he died.
Benzie Sheriff Rory Heckman issued written reprimands to Kristi Fortine and Christopher Woods, two corrections officers on duty when Baughman hanged. The two were told they didn't properly supervise inmates the day he died.
"They were obviously advised that further violations will result in progressive discipline up to and including termination," Heckman said.
Fortine has worked for the department since 2001; Woods hired on about a year ago.
Officers locked Baughman and other inmates in their cells for a jail staff shift change at 2:30 p.m., and Baughman didn't emerge into a commons area when officers unlocked cell doors using a remote system at 3:30 p.m. An inmate found Baughman hanging in his cell by about 4:30 and notified corrections officers.
Heckman said the entire staff was told after the incident to always complete physical cell inspections instead of solely relying on surveillance cameras. Jail officials also switched to vent grates with openings too small for a sheet to be threaded through.
Another inmate told investigators he heard Baughman say, "Man, I should just hang myself," shortly before the incident. Baughman was frustrated because his calling card didn't work and he had trouble securing bond money, the inmate said.
The inmate later told deputies "he never thought (Baughman) would do it," and "didn't take him seriously," according to the investigation.
Baughman told a jail nurse the day of his hanging that he wanted to get on anti-depressant medication and told a different nurse the same thing three days prior. The medication arrived at the jail at about the time Baughman hanged himself, reports indicate.
Some of Baughman's relatives previously said they didn't plan to take legal action, though Heckman believes Baughman's wife may be considering it.
Baughman's wife is represented by Traverse City attorney Patrick Heintz. Heintz is investigating the possibility of a wrongful death claim, but said no decisions have yet been made.
