Fla. guards accused in prisoner hot-shower death won’t face charges

An investigation into the death of an inmate with schizophrenia in Florida who was reportedly left in a hot shower for two hours until officers found him dead concluded that the corrections officers did not commit a crime.

The report from Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernández Rundle said the death of Darren Rainey, 50, at Dade Correctional Institution in Miami-Dade County, Fla., was an accident, the Miami Herald reported.

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Inmates claimed that the correction officers used high and cold temperatures in the shower as a way to punish inmates. The investigation found that the inmates’ accounts were not reliable.

The report said none of the correction officers were “criminally responsible” for Rainey’s death and ruled out filing any charges.

“We are appalled that the state attorney did not look deeper into this case and see the criminality of the people who were involved,” said Milton Grimes, an attorney for the siblings of Rainey, according to the Herald.

The Florida Department of Corrections defended its cooperation with law enforcement on the investigation to close the case and said it continues to work to implement reforms for treating inmates suffering from mental illness.

“For nearly five years, the Florida Department of Corrections (FDC) has worked with the Miami-Dade Police Department, Florida Department of Law Enforcement and Federal Bureau of Investigation to examine the facts and bring closure to the death investigation of Darren Rainey,” FDC secretary Julie Jones said in a statement.

“Every inmate deserves a comprehensive review and investigation and we thank our law enforcement partners and the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office for their hard work throughout this process,” the statement continued.

“FDC remains laser-focused on implementing reforms that enhance treatment for inmates with mental illness and ensure proper care for all in our custody and we will continue to integrate services which ensure these inmates successfully re-enter society and lead crime-free lives upon release,” she added.

Updated: 6:51 p.m.