O'Dell inquest held today

A Coroner's inquest was held today into the death of Tommy O'Dell in the McHenry County Jail on April 26.

The inquest was conducted by Deputy Coroner (DC) Kurt Bradshaw. What differed between today's inquest and one I attended on April 15 was that the family and observers were asked to go to the hallway while the jurors were instructed about the inquest. Afterwards, I was told that each deputy coroner can decide how to conduct the instructions for any inquest.

After the room was re-opened to family and visitors, the inquest started. There were seven jurors present, and no one was identified as an alternate. The Coroner should establish a protocol to be followed by all on her staff; I prefer to hear the instructions given to the jurors, and I suspect that O'Dell's mother might have preferred that.

DC Bradshaw ran through the toxicology results the first time without explaining standards, safe levels or relevance. I wondered whether it seems overwhelming to the jurors. Later he referred to the drugs as non-prescribed medications for anti-anxiety and drug withdrawal.

MCSD Detective Ed Maldonado had conducted the death investigation and gave a concise, oral report without the use of notes. He covered all the details clearly and explained what was known about O'Dell's movements at the courthouse and before he came to court from Harvard.

The jurors asked only a few questions before reaching their decision that the manner of death was suicide. O'Dell, expecting to be taken into custody at the courthouse, had apparently ingested a large quantity of drugs either before coming into the courthouse or before going to the courtroom.