On December 18, 2022, Earl Moore Jr. died after being tightly strapped face-down on a stretcher by paramedics in Springfield, Illinois. Moore, who was in distress and suffering from hallucinations and alcohol withdrawal, was yelled at and dragged by paramedic Peggy Finley, before she and partner Peter Cadigan strapped him to the stretcher. Moore was taken to the hospital, where he died an hour later.[1]
| Date | December 18, 2022 |
|---|---|
| Location | Springfield, Illinois, U.S. |
| Cause | Asphyxia |
| Filmed by | Police body camera |
| Accused | Peter Cadigan Peggy Finley |
| Charges | First-degree murder |
On January 9, 2023, Cadigan and Finley were charged with first-degree murder after an autopsy concluded that Moore's death was a homicide as a result of compressional and positional asphyxia.[2]
Death edit
On the morning of December 18, 2022, police responded to a call at Moore's residence about a person in possession of firearms. After arriving, they found Moore in medical distress after detoxing, and called an ambulance. Paramedics Peter Cadigan and Peggy Finley arrived, where Finley yelled at Moore to "sit up" and "quit acting stupid." Moore, who was unable to walk, was carried to the ambulance by police as he was refused assistance by Cadigan and Finley. The paramedics then strapped him in a prone position on the stretcher before taking him to the hospital, where he later died.[3]
An autopsy ruled Moore's death a homicide, and was caused by "prone face-down restraint on a paramedic transportation cot/stretcher by tightened straps across the back."[4]
Legal proceedings edit
Both Cadigan and Finley were charged with first-degree murder, and are held in the Sangamon County Jail. They are facing 20 to 60 years in prison.[5][6]
Moore's family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the paramedics involved, as well as LifeStar Ambulance Services. They are represented by Ben Crump and Robert C. Hilliard.[7]
References edit
- ^ de Mar, Charlie; Novak, Analisa (January 19, 2023). "Family files wrongful death lawsuit against Illinois paramedics who are charged with murder". CBS News. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
- ^ Foody, Kathleen (January 17, 2023). "Prosecutor: Paramedics killed man by strapping him facedown". AP NEWS. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
- ^ Li, Johanna (January 20, 2023). "Paramedics Charged With Murder of Earl Moore, Black Man Killed During Mental Health Episode, Appear in Court". Inside Edition. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
- ^ Lenthang, Marlene (January 21, 2023). "2 Illinois EMS workers charged with murder in death of patient strapped to stretcher appear in court". NBC News. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
- ^ O'Connor, John; Foody, Kathleen (January 21, 2023). "Judge OKs trial for Illinois paramedics in patient's death". Yahoo! News. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
- ^ Li, Johanna (January 20, 2023). "Paramedics Charged With Murder of Earl Moore, Black Man Killed During Mental Health Episode, Appear in Court". Inside Edition. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
- ^ Roth, Zach; Spearie, Steven (January 19, 2023). "Illinois EMS workers accused of murder appear in court as Earl Moore's family files suit". USA TODAY. Retrieved January 21, 2023.