A local prosecutor says he'll soon decide whether to criminally charge a former state worker in a severely disabled man's choking death from a shower that co-workers described as punishment for uncooperative residents of a southern Illinois developmental center.
A coroner's inquest jury has classified the March death of 46-year-old Todd Clementz at the Warren G. Murray Developmental Center in Centralia as a homicide. Clementz was deaf and blind.
Clinton County State's Attorney John Hudspeth tells The Associated Press his review of the case is nearly complete. An autopsy determined Clementz died from choking on cold water as well as regurgitated food.
The AP is not naming the employee, who was initially placed on administrative leave but later fired for seeking work at another state agency during an internal investigation.
