After reading the April 6 Herald article, “Charges filed in death at jail,” it’s hard to believe that there could be that many negligent self-serving staff working in any one place, especially Island County Jail. There are so many players in this story of the horrific death of Keaton Farris that it is hard to believe this could happen. No matter what he did to get there, he never deserved to die.
The jail chief knew what was going on, and the jailers and staff working under him never challenged his decisions that would have most likely brought a different outcome. They all turned a blind eye and deaf ear letting that poor young man die of starvation and dehydration with no obvious remorse, including two staff falsifying records.
If the nurse was told she couldn’t visit Keaton because he was a troubled inmate (there are such things as handcuffs and restraints, I mean it is a jail), then she should have immediately contacted a person over her chief’s pay grade to do whatever it took to get into that cell. I’ve always believed a nurse’s job is dedicated to treating and saving lives, and this nurse broke her code of ethics.
I also question Prosecutor David McEachran who stated he declined to file any charges related to the in-custody death saying he couldn’t find any one person who was criminally liable, which I find very troubling.
Each of the staff is just as guilty in the death of this young man for doing nothing. I’ve always heard when anyone is in the presence of a crime and does nothing to stop it they are just as guilty as the one doing the crime, so why is this any different. There are too many cases that end like Keaton’s and something needs to change. If it means trying jail staff in the death of this young man, then so be it. Then maybe things will change. My heart goes out to his parents.
Chris Morgan
Lake Stevens
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